About Counseling

If you haven't had counseling before, the following information may help.

What is

Counseling?

Counseling – also known as therapy or psychotherapy – is a professional service used to help people work through life problems, whether emotional, psychological, behavioral, relational, or personal in nature.

It offers an opportunity to discuss and think about problems, receive objective feed back and professional resources, and to gain insight into oneself in a respectful, supportive, and safe environment. I see it as a collaborative effort between client and therapist to solve problems and create change.

The counseling process is a form of work. It takes courage and effort, sometimes facing difficult thoughts and feelings or pushback. At first, sometimes things get worse before they get better. But over time, with help and encouragement, you can change habits of thinking and behavior, improve relationships, and literally change your mind – and your life.

How does the

Process Work?

Like a good story, therapy consists of a beginning, a middle, and an end: assessment, treatment, and termination.

Assessment generally lasts 1-3 weeks. During that time, you tell your story and decide what you want to get out of therapy. After we both understand the problem and your goals, we will create a treatment plan and map out our approach.
Treatment is the longest phase. It is the work of therapy. How long treatment takes depends on
- your goals
- the nature and severity of the problem
- how long it has been an issue
- the presence of other stressors in your life
- your desire for growth, level of engagement, and participation in therapy
- how you apply what you learn in counseling to your daily life

Generally, I ask clients to commit to a period of ten sessions and then decide if they wish to continue therapy. This allows time for us to develop a relationship, address the issues, and start seeing results. Progress isn't always linear; it takes time and practice to develop new habits, and there may be some setbacks. We'll work through those issues and anything new that comes up in the process.

Eventually, you won't need counseling as much, and it will be time to phase out treatment. The time leading up to and including the end of counseling is called termination. This is where we consolidate progress, tie up loose ends, and reflect on the changes that have been made. While you can end therapy at any time, a good termination phase brings closure and peace to the therapy process, and is often cause for celebration.
In order to help you maintain progress, I keep my door open for follow-ups and tune-ups. We can talk about follow-up sessions at the time of termination.

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What makes counseling

Different?

Family, friends, coworkers, and clergy can be invaluable sources of love, encouragement, advice, and support. These are people who care about you, who have a vested interest in you, and who share their lives with you. You are part of their lives as well. Most of these relationships are reciprocal: each person gives a little and gets a little, back and forth.

The counseling relationship is different from friendship in three important ways. First, the relationship is not reciprocal; the focus is entirely on you and your needs. All of my knowledge, training, experience, and advice are at your service. Second, professional counseling is confidential. Except for specific circumstances when it is necessary to protect individuals from abuse or harm, what you say in the counseling office (including the fact that you are receiving counseling) belongs to you and is not shared with others. Third, the relationship is limited to that of client and counselor only. In order to give my clients the best care and protect their best interests, I cannot have other social, romantic, or business relationships with them or offer advice outside of my scope of practice.

Taken together, these boundaries create a safe, nonjudgmental, environment where you can freely express your thoughts, share your feelings, and explore your beliefs. As you process your experiences, your counselor is your personal sounding board and advisor. I can offer different perspectives, challenge maladaptive thought patterns, teach new skills, and help you think through plans, decisions, and solutions. Along the way, you will gain greater insight, understanding, and agency. Hope, healing, happiness, and relief are within your reach.

Can counseling

Help Me?

I believe that everyone can benefit from counseling at some point in their life. Maybe you're interested in taking care of old hurts, preparing for a your next milestone, adapting to a new situation, improving yourself, or just keeping your most treasured relationships on track. There are as many reasons for seeking counseling are as there are people – everyone has their own unique goals and situations.

Counseling can help you:

process difficult feelings and experiences
identify and challenge negative thoughts
understand problems
expand your range of choices and identify solutions
cope with mental or emotional issues
get control of your life
identify your priorities and values
work through life stages and transitions
understand other people
improve your relationships
strengthen your marriage and family
make meaning of your life experiences
find healing and relief

If you're feeling stuck and overwhelmed, you're ready to make a big change, or you've decided that it's finally time to talk to someone, now's the time to get the help you need.