What is counseling?
Counseling is a way for people who are having problems which are difficult to deal with, or challenging to manage, to get help from a trained professional. There are many different kinds of counseling. I primarily work in what we call talk therapy. Counseling is usually sought when a person can't find the answers to a problem on their own. A counselor will hear your concerns and ask questions to find a deeper level of understanding about the problem. The therapist will usually explore with you the different ways in which you can change your thinking about the problem or teach you new skills that you can use to resolve the problem on your own.
How can counseling help?
Counseling can help eliminate emotional pain and distress. It can help you build new skills that you can begin to use to work with your current concerns. Counseling can restore relationships. It can improve your self esteem. It can teach you that there is more than one option, or how to free yourself from struggles. Counseling can help you accomplish all of this and more. The only thing it can't do is change you. You have to do that by yourself. It is up to you to apply what you learn. I often remind my clients that if we keep doing what we have always done, we will continue to get what we have always gotten. Nothing will change until you change it.
How can I tell if it is working?
Progress in counseling usually feels like something has changed. You might feel more sure of yourself, or more optimistic. Usually you are applying the new skills and acting on new ways of thinking. You may also find that you are now successful at getting better results from behaviors that in the past might not have been so successful. It really comes down to you and how you are feeling.
How will I know when counseling is complete?
You will feel more complete. Most of the distress and difficulty that precipitated your decision to seek counseling will be more manageable. Your understanding about the problem will be different and you will have new skills and strategies to use in addressing the problems. Your counselor or therapist can provide you with feedback about your question to continue or end sessions. They can best determine if you are ready to discontinue counseling. Ultimately the decision is yours to make.
Individual Counseling
In individual counseling I work with the individual to reach resolution with a variety of issues, to relieve distress, solve problems, improve quality of life both emotional and practical. I teach the skills and provide the feedback to facilitate success and resolution to the presenting problems.
Children and Adolescents
I work with children and adolescents to achieve the same as above. Here I work with the child individually and with the parents and or school as needed to facilitate change, teach skills, and create new behaviors to replace undesirable ones.
Couples Counseling
In couples counseling I work with the couple to address the problems presented by either party or both for the purpose of repairing, strengthening, or dissolving the relationship. I work openly with all types of couples without discrimination to race, creed, ethnic origins, or sexual preference.
Family Counseling
In family counseling I work with the family unit which might encompass various forms of step parenting, or extended generations such as grandparents. I view the family as a system and work to determine which patterns are creating success and which patterns are destructive. I believe that healthy families are the foundations for healthy children, healthy relationships, healthy communities and ultimately, our healthy future.
Email today if you are interested in professional counseling. Remember to put the word Counseling in the subject line, Email Now
*Personal Growth
*Emotional Issues (depression, anxiety, grief/loss, anger, self-esteem)
*Relationship Issues (marital, dating, significant other, divorce/separation)
*Stress Management (life stressors, overwhelm, increased responsibility or work load)
*Addictions (alcohol, street drugs, prescription drugs, gambling, relationships, food, drama)
*Parenting/Family Concerns (discipline, setting and keeping boundaries and limits, enforcing consequences)
*Career Concerns (burn out, difficulty on the job, job stress, job goal achievement, job loss)