Counseling Services

Individual Therapy

In individual therapy the client and the therapist work together to make change. A therapist helps to create a space where the person feels comfortable thinking and talking about behaviors objectively. The first goal is to build rapport or trust between the therapist and the client. Once that trust is formed, the therapist can work with the client to conquer the difficulties he/she might be experiencing. This can be challenging for children and adolescents because they tend to view themselves in fairly concrete terms. In addition, many of the hurdles faced by children and adolescents are intertwined with multiple systems (family, school, peers). Nevertheless, having a place where problems can be shared and addressed allows for guided growth to occur. There are many approaches to individual therapy. Play therapy is often used for younger children who are typically limited in language, but can certainly express themselves in other ways. Behavioral or cognitive behavioral therapy is used for children, adolescents and adults in order to build skills and challenge thoughts that are ineffective and lead to inappropriate emotions and behavior. Insight oriented therapy facilitates self awareness and self determination and can be modified for use across age groups.

Here are some examples of possible therapeutic goals:

• to decrease anxiety and/or depressive symptoms
• to improve communication skills with family members
• to better manage anger
• to learn relaxation techniques
• to improve coping skills
• to manage time more effectively and make better grades
• to gain support after a significant loss
  

Couples and Family Therapy

In Couples/Marriage Therapy only the couple attends sessions. At times individually, but the majority of times sessions are together. With Family Therapy, members of the family are met with either individually, or collectively, or in any variation.

The therapists providing these services have a specialized area of training in which they recognize the value of positive, stable, long-term, and emotionally strong relationships. Families and relationships all have strengths and challenges; those challenges can stem from personalities, work, parenting, grief, or any number of life situations.

In Couples/ Marriage and Family Therapy the therapists analyze the process of the family interaction and communication as a whole without taking sides. Family dynamics and patterns are explored to improve relationships and strengthen communication between couples or family members. The goal is to help family members become more conscious of patterns or structures that have been previously taken for granted which may or not be working in their favor for the benefit of the whole. Families/Couples who receive therapy are helped to understand the motivations and actions of others, as well as how and when to accept the behaviors of others. In addition, they are taught techniques to modify their own behaviors. Successful therapy begins with commitment to the process and patience.

Based on the needs of clients, therapy may include things such as:

• Identifying how you chose your partner and how you have established your household (roles, rules, etc.).
• Identification of how your family of origin impacts your relationships and parenting today.
• Learning how to effectively communicate with each other and the children.
• Learn and improve problem solving skills in a way that benefits the family unit as a whole.
• Identifying parenting strategies that promote well being for the entire family.
• Maintaining or gaining a strong relationship in the midst of a crisis or challenging diagnoses.
  

Couples/Marriage and Family Therapy may include, but is not limited to, active listening, role playing, role modeling, behavior modification, play therapy, as well as homework assignments.