Charlie is 33 years old, single, and has no children. Charlie describes life by saying, “I have a successful job, but I am not very happy with my success. I always seem to get bogged down with anxious and troublesome thoughts that things are not going to work out.”
Charlie continues to describe common ways of coping. “I smile and laugh when hanging out with a group, but inside I am really worried with what is going on around in the world. I do not want anybody to know because people are quick to judge and make me feel like I do not deserve to be in their space.”
As Charlie is thinking about what successful therapy may look like, Charlie expresses the desire to be able to know anxiety and depression before it really takes over. “I really want the tools to help live life with purpose and happiness. Being able to relax while living is also a major plus.”
After describing a recent incident at their job as a corporate office manager, specializing in customer service operations, Charlie says that it is the time for therapy. “Despite great performance reviews, my boss talks down to me and that day really made me feel like I was less than him and did not belong there. I felt so low.
“I always get anxious on my way to work when the thoughts start. ‘I am sure to encounter Trey today.’ ‘Trey always talks down to me.’ ‘I am going to stand up for myself today.’ Inevitably, I find myself thinking that they are going to let me go any day because I don’t fit the corporate mold. “
Charlie continues, “It doesn’t seem to matter how much rest I get. I always feel anxious when performance is the goal. Then, when I do not meet my personal demands, which are really company goals, I feel something is still missing…depressive thoughts usually set in. ‘I’m never going to make it anywhere.’ ‘I’ll always be mediocre at best.’ ‘Same crap, different day.’”
*This story does not reflect any specific client. It is a fictional account of what a person can encounter with anxiety and depression.
Individual counseling is largely completed using a cognitive model, yet many methods may be used depending on need. I will begin with looking to understand an individuals counseling needs, just by listening to your story. From there, we will continue with understanding how you may or may not be functioning by visiting thoughts, emotions and behavior/choice. Each one is an important element to understand in a your life. A variety of interactions can be used to accurately understand and enact change in your life.
Individual Counseling is offered for the following presentations:
*(Not limited to just these presentations)
Kelly and Casey*, 27 and 23 years old, dated for three years then decided to get married. Two years into their marriage, they welcome a new baby boy, Connor. One partner works as a medical rep for a pharmaceutical company and the other is a freelance graphic designer. They both love spending time with friends and drinking microbrews while listening to live music.
After two and half years of marriage, they realize that the baby needs a lot of attention. They describe their relationship as “up and down. ” When the relationship is up, they are doing really good with minimal arguments. When times are down, they cannot even seem to greet each other without arguing.
“When we start to argue, we cannot even talk civil to each other. It’s like we live in two different worlds,” Casey says. Kelly adds they are here today so they can communicate without fighting or reminding each other of all the wrongs in the past.
Kelly and Casey decided to try couples counseling because just last week they got in a conflict and are now barely speaking to each other.
*This story does not reflect any specific client. It is a fictional account of what couples can encounter in a relationship.
Couples Counseling is offered in different ways:
Pre-marital: Marriages work better when partners know how to communicate with each other. Using The Gottman Method, a couple can become specifically aware of the skills necessary to build a healthy relationship for a lifetime.
Marriage/Relationship: Whether you are married, or in a committed relationship, the skills necessary for a sound relationship are the same. Using The Gottman Method, a couple can work to build a dream that has never been realized and develop conflict management skills by recognizing and responding to the needs of their partner.
Couples and Recovery: Many partners in a relationship need help when faced with the difficulty of substance misuse. Couples And Recovery (CAR), developed by The Gottman Institute, focuses on helping a partner(s) in recovery by building the relationship while one or both partners are in recovery.
Trauma: Many individuals have traumatic experience(s) and the impact does not go away because a person is in a loving relationship. Working with a trauma-informed couples counselor can greatly assist a couple towards understanding and developing an empathetic response.
Affairs: The wound caused by an affair is indescribable. Affair work begins with understanding what happened and/or what is currently happening. When you are ready as a couple to face the affair, the work can begin to amend the relationship. The time needed for this can vary. Once we have significant work towards amendment, we will then move towards secure attachment. This is possible, yet it will take time, hard work, and your energy.
*Telehealth (counseling via Video) is available upon request.