I offer counseling/coaching services for individuals (adolescents and adults) and couples.
Individual Counseling,
Couples/Marriage Counseling
Specialties
Anxieties/Fears/Phobias
Relationship Issues
Depression
Spirituality
Grief and Loss
Body image
Life transitions
Therapeutic Treatment Preferences
Mindfulness based therapy
Hypnotherapy/Guided Imagery
Existential
Holistic (focusing on the person as a whole; the physical, mental and spiritual)
Person-Centered
Imago Relationship Model
The first individual counseling session begins with an initial consultation. During this time I will begin to learn more about you, the issues you are dealing with, and the goals you hope to achieve. This is also an opportunity for you to gain a deeper understanding of my therapeutic style and to discern if it is the right “fit” for you. This is the time we can look at specific treatment styles and customize them to suit your needs.
~Counseling is a collaborative process; therefore, the client is involved in the goal-setting process from the beginning, and throughout the therapeutic journey.
I believe in a client-centered approach to individual counseling, which was developed by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1950’s. This approach involves genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard toward the client. Furthermore, this includes creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for healing, one in which the client is empowered and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Lastly, while the counseling session is tailored to meet the individual needs of the client, I do approach the presented issues holistically. Traditionally, psychotherapy and counseling look at the psychological states of an individual, in terms of “fixing” the issue. A holistic approach to counseling still focuses primarily on the psychological and emotional, however addresses the ‘whole’ person, exploring other areas (physical health, nutrition, spirituality) that may be contributing to the client’s distress or imbalance.
The first couples counseling appointment also consists of an initial consultation or ‘getting to know’ session. At this time I will get an idea of the relationship issues that are causing distress and the goals you are hoping to achieve as a couple. While it is important to explore individual issues that are contributing to the conflict, in couples counseling the relationship is the client, so the focus remains on how to heal and grow the relationship. Furthermore, my couples counseling style is about empowering the couple with the tools they will need to enhance their life together in a meaningful and healthy way.
Working through relationship problems on your own can sometimes prove a daunting task. Often times, a couple will be stuck amidst a power struggle, or just become indifferent to the issues, and learn to co-exist in the partnership. However, you are not meant to battle with your partner or to simply co-exist without passion; you chose one another for a reason, and conflicts are actually an opportunity to deepen your relationship. Relationship counseling assists you in understanding the issues contributing to the problem and how to deal with them thoughtfully and sensitively.
Some typical issues people address in relationship counseling may include: a lack of connection or intimacy, life transitions, parenting conflicts, blended families, anger, infidelity, finances, substance abuse and communication problems.
The only training most of us have in the area of relationships is what we have learned from our own families, caregivers and past relationships. Couples counseling can be an emotional and relational education; an opportunity to learn new ways of relating, to gain a deeper understanding of your partner, and regain that lost sense of connection.