Counseling

“It's not too difficult to get the skeletons out of the closet with people, but to get the gold out is a different matter. That is therapy. Psychology is the Art of finding the gold of the spirit”
– Robert A. Johnson

• Definition:

Individual counseling is psychotherapy performed by a trained therapist with one client. Individual counseling sessions typically last between 45 minutes and an hour, but can vary based on the therapist, client, and situation. The number of sessions and frequency of sessions will also vary based on the therapist, client, and situation. Individual counseling helps clients to examine problem areas of their lives. Techniques utilized in individual counseling vary between therapists, but most therapy consists of extensive exploration of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, interpersonal relationships, patterns, and personal growth.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our therapists based on your needs and availability. Upon arriving to the first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork, pay any fees (depending on your insurance), and then you will meet with your therapist. Your therapist will ask you to explain some of the difficulties you are having and then you and your therapist will discuss ways to approach the difficulties. In most cases, the therapist will develop a treatment plan with you to help keep track of the goals of therapy and your progress.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of treatment. The first session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first session, the therapist may ask for your feedback on the session and ask if you would be interested in continuing treatment. If you decide to continue treatment with that therapist, you would simply schedule another appointment with our front office.

Individual counseling is a commitment for both the therapist and the client. The therapist is expected to work with you to find ways to address your problem areas, but you will be expected to work on your own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help you develop and maintain the skills necessary to address your concerns. In order for individual counseling to be the most helpful, you will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let your therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our individual counseling services or to schedule an appointment for individual counseling.

“In each family a story is playing itself out, and each family's story embodies its hope and despair”
– Auguste Napier, Ph.D.

• Definition:

Marriage & Family Counseling is psychotherapy that is focused on family systems. Marriage & Family Counseling can consist of individual, family, and group therapy. The theory behind marriage & family therapy is that certain mental health problems and interpersonal difficulties are best treated within a family context, which involves exploring symptoms and interaction patterns within the clients’ existing environment. Marriage and family counseling sessions typically last between 45 minutes and an hour (just like individual counseling), but can also vary based on the therapist, client, and situation. Therapists who offer marriage and family therapy may provide services such as premarital counseling and education or marital enrichment. Marriage and family counseling does not only apply to married couples though; Individuals, dating couples, siblings, co-workers, roommates, etc., can all benefit from seeing a marriage and family therapist.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our therapists based on your needs and availability. You do not have to be married to schedule a marriage and family therapy session and not all family members are required to take part in the treatment process. Many times, individuals begin marriage and family therapy and bring other family members into treatment at a later point when they are motivated to become involved. Marriage and family therapy is designed to help almost anyone that is experiencing interpersonal difficulties within a relationship, so even if you are not married or if you believe your family members won’t participate, you may still benefit from becoming involved in marriage and family therapy.

Upon arriving to the first appointment, you (and any other individuals involved with treatment) will be asked to complete some paperwork, pay any fees (depending on the insurance), and then you (and any other involved individuals) will meet with your therapist. The therapist will then meet with the individuals (sometimes one at a time, sometimes with everyone) and explore some of the difficulties that are occurring. The therapist will then work with the individual(s) to develop a treatment plan to help keep track of the goals and progress of the therapy.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of treatment. The first session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first session, the therapist may ask for your feedback on the session and ask if you would be interested in continuing treatment. If you decide to continue treatment with that therapist, you would simply schedule another appointment with our front office.

Marriage and family counseling is a commitment for both the therapist and the clients. The therapist is expected to work with the individual(s) to find ways to address the problem areas, but the individual(s) will be expected to work on their own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help you develop and maintain the skills necessary to address the concerns. In order for marriage and family counseling to be the most helpful, the individual(s) will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let your therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our marriage and family counseling services or to schedule an appointment for marriage and family counseling.

“Children are barometers of the chaos that exists within their lives”
– Asa Don Brown, Ph.D.

• Definition:

Child and adolescent counseling is psychotherapy performed by a trained therapist with a child or adolescent. This form of psychotherapy can also include individual and/or joint sessions with the parent/guardian. The structure of child and adolescent counseling is similar to individual counseling. The sessions typically last between 45 minutes and an hour, but can vary based on the therapist, client, and situation. The techniques utilized in child and adolescent counseling vary between therapists and depend on the client and situation. Some therapists practice play therapy, which is the use of a variety of play and creative arts techniques to help the child express feelings, act out fantasies, and alleviate psychological and emotional difficulties. Play therapy is typically used for children because children are not as capable of verbally expressing their thoughts, feelings, and difficulties as adults are. Child and adolescent counseling can help the child receive emotional support, learn conflict resolution techniques, process emotions, and develop more adaptive problem-solving strategies.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your child’s issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our therapists based on your needs and availability. Upon arriving to the first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork for the child, pay any fees (depending on your insurance), and then you will meet with the therapist. The therapist may wish to meet initially with the parent(s)/guardian(s), the child, or everyone at once. The therapist will then ask about some of the difficulties the child is having discuss ways to approach the difficulties. In most cases, the therapist will develop a treatment plan to help keep track of the goals of therapy and progress made.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of treatment. The first session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first session, the therapist may ask for your feedback on the session and ask if you would be interested in continuing treatment. If you decide to continue treatment with that therapist, you would simply schedule another appointment with our front office.

Child and adolescent counseling is a commitment for the therapist, the child, and the parent(s)/guardian(s). The therapist is expected to work with the child and the family to find ways to address the problem areas, but the child and family will be expected to work on their own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help the client develop and maintain the skills necessary to address the primary concerns. In order for individual counseling to be the most helpful, the child and family will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let the therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our child and adolescent counseling services or to schedule an appointment for child and adolescent counseling.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17

• Definition:

Christian counseling is psychotherapy with a focus on Christian values. Christian counselors integrate modern psychological practices with traditional religious beliefs and teachings. Most therapists hold faith and religious beliefs as important tools and strengths for clients, but Christian counselors specifically focus on biblical teachings and religious values as one of the primary methods of approaching difficulties. Christian counseling can be offered for individuals, groups, families, as well as children and adolescents. Christian counseling sessions typically last between 45 minutes and an hour, but can vary based on the therapist, client, and situation.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our Christian counselors based on your needs and availability. Upon arriving to the first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork, pay any fees (depending on your insurance), and then you will meet with your therapist. If working individually, your therapist will ask you to explain some of the difficulties you are having and then you and your therapist will discuss ways to approach the difficulties. In most cases, the therapist will develop a treatment plan with you to help keep track of the goals of therapy and your progress. In a group setting, you will join the group and the therapist will discuss the processes and expectations of the group.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of treatment. The first session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first session, the therapist may ask for your feedback on the session and ask if you would be interested in continuing treatment. If you decide to continue treatment with that therapist, you would simply schedule another appointment with our front office.

Christian counseling is a commitment for both the therapist and the client. The therapist is expected to work with you to find ways to address your problem areas through scripture and biblical principles, but you will be expected to work on your own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help you develop and maintain the skills necessary to address your concerns. In order for Christian counseling to be the most helpful, you will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let your therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our Christian counseling services or to schedule an appointment for Christian counseling.

“Many individuals enter therapy with the disquieting thought that they are unique in their wretchedness, that they alone have certain frightening or unacceptable problems, thoughts, impulses, and fantasies... In the therapy group, especially in the early stages, the disconfirmation of a client's feelings of uniqueness is a powerful source of relief”
– Irvin Yalom, M.D.

• Definition:

Group counseling is psychotherapy performed by one or more trained therapists with several people at the same time. Groups can be as small as three or four people, but group sessions typically involve six to twelve people (sometimes more). Group sessions can meet once or twice each week for approximately an hour to two hours each meeting, depending on the therapists, clients, and situation. The idea behind group therapy is that it allows people to receive support from other people facing similar difficulties, it is more cost-effective than individual sessions, and it allows the therapist(s) to see a first-hand demonstration of how the clients interact with others.Group therapy sessions can be open or closed. In open groups, new participants may join the group at any time. In closed groups, only the members who joined at the beginning may participate. Group sessions typically meet in a room with seats arranged in a large circle so that every person can see each other. The style of group therapy and techniques utilized will vary from therapist to therapist and depend on the clients involved and the topic of focus for the group.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our group therapists based on your needs and availability. Upon arriving to the first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork and pay any fees (depending on your insurance). The therapist(s) may elect to conduct individual meetings with each client before beginning group sessions in order to assess the client’s problems. During the initial group session, the therapist(s) will introduce themselves to the group, hand out information about the group, and lead the group in an introduction activity to get to know each other. The group may then engage in a discussion to develop objectives, rules, and procedures that the members will follow.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of group therapy. The first group session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first group session, the therapist may ask for the group’s feedback on the session. The therapist will also inform you of the schedule for sessions (including frequency of sessions, days, and times).

Group counseling is a commitment for the therapist and the group members. The therapist is expected to work with the group to find ways to address the problem areas, but the group will be expected to work on their own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help the group develop and maintain the skills necessary to address the primary concerns. In order for group counseling to be the most helpful, you will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon group objectives, rules, and procedures. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let your therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our group counseling services or to schedule an appointment for group counseling.

“Acceptance is outcomes without attachments, guilt, shame, remorse, self-pity, resentment, fear, anger, etc. These are the tools of the disease of addiction. To maintain recovery, one must maintain a state of acceptance.”
– Unknown Author

• Definition:

Addiction counseling is psychotherapy performed by a trained therapist working with individual(s) with various addictions. Addiction counseling is often used interchangeably with substance abuse counseling, but addiction is not limited to just substances. Addiction counseling can apply to individuals with problems related to substance abuse, but also to individuals with problems related to gambling, shopping, internet use, sex, and other activities. Therapists who provide addiction counseling typically provide support, encouragement, and training in order to help individuals recover from or avoid returning to a life of addiction.Addiction counseling can be offered to groups (often referred to as “substance abuse classes”), individuals, families, and in some cases, adolescents. The length of sessions can vary based on the type of therapy being offered (e.g. group therapy or individual therapy), as well as the therapist, client, and situation. Addiction counseling can help individuals identify their problems, become motivated to change their behavior, take steps to change unwanted behaviors, repair damaged relationships as a result of the addiction, build new and healthy relationships, and create a lifestyle of recovery.

Our addiction counseling program may be an accepted form of treatment for individuals who are court-ordered to attend “substance abuse classes”. Please feel free to Contact Us to inquire about court requirements or to find out about availability.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our therapists based on your needs and availability. Upon arriving to the first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork, pay any fees (depending on your insurance), and then you will meet with your therapist. If working individually, your therapist will ask you to explain some of the difficulties you are having and then you and your therapist will discuss ways to approach the difficulties. In most cases, the therapist will develop a treatment plan with you to help keep track of the goals of therapy and your progress. In a group setting, you will join the group and the therapist will discuss the processes and expectations of the group.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of treatment. The first session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first session, the therapist may ask for your feedback on the session and ask if you would be interested in continuing treatment. If you decide to continue treatment with that therapist, you would simply schedule another appointment with our front office.

Addiction counseling is a commitment for both the therapist and the client. The therapist is expected to work with you to find ways to address your problem areas, but you will be expected to work on your own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help you develop and maintain the skills necessary to address your concerns. In order for addiction counseling to be the most helpful, you will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let your therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our addictions counseling services or to schedule an appointment for addictions counseling.

“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it”
– Marcus Aurelius

• Definition:

Anger management is psychotherapy performed by a trained therapist working with individual(s) with anger issues. Therapists who provide anger management therapy typically provide support, encouragement, and training in order to help individuals respond to situations more effectively and process emotions in a more constructive manner. Anger management can also help individuals to recognize what triggers their anger, learn specific skills to manage the triggers, learn relaxation and assertiveness techniques, and develop more effective problem-solving strategies.Anger management can be offered to groups (often referred to as “anger management classes”), individuals, families, as well as children and adolescents. The length of sessions can vary based on the type of therapy being offered (e.g. group therapy or individual therapy), as well as the therapist, client, and situation.

Our anger management program may be an accepted form of treatment for individuals who are court-ordered to attend “anger management classes”. Please feel free to Contact Us to inquire about court requirements or to find out about availability.

• The Process:

When you Contact Us, we will gather relevant information regarding your issues and find the best fit for your mental health needs. With your permission, we will schedule an appointment with one of our therapists based on your needs and availability. Upon arriving to the first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork, pay any fees (depending on your insurance), and then you will meet with your therapist. If working individually, your therapist will ask you to explain some of the difficulties you are having and then you and your therapist will discuss ways to approach the difficulties. In most cases, the therapist will develop a treatment plan with you to help keep track of the goals of therapy and your progress. In a group setting, you will join the group and the therapist will discuss the processes and expectations of the group.

The first session of therapy will cover some important areas such as confidentiality and expectations of treatment. The first session is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the process. At the end of the first session, the therapist may ask for your feedback on the session and ask if you would be interested in continuing treatment. If you decide to continue treatment with that therapist, you would simply schedule another appointment with our front office.

Anger management is a commitment for both the therapist and the client. The therapist is expected to work with you to find ways to address your difficulties with anger, but you will be expected to work on your own to help facilitate the progress. Many therapists utilize homework assignments to help you develop and maintain the skills necessary to address your concerns. In order for anger management to be the most helpful, you will be expected to complete homework assignments and comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let your therapist know.

Feel free to Contact Us to find out more about our anger management counseling services or to schedule an appointment for anger management counseling.