What we offer
We offer Psychotherapy and Counseling for Individuals, Couples and Groups.
What's the difference between Psychotherapy and Counseling?
"Psychotherapy" and "counseling" are terms that are often used interchangeably. Although they are very similar, there are some subtle differences as well. Counseling can be described as a helping a client to learn or acquire new skills which will enable them to cope and adjust to life situations.
The focus is to help a person reach maximum fulfillment or potential, and to become fully functioning as a person.
Psychotherapy is the process in which a therapist assists the client in re-organizing his or her personality. The therapist also helps the client integrate insights into everyday behavior.
In counseling, the counselor will focus on the "here and now", reality situations. During psychotherapy, the therapist is examining the unconscious or past. A psychotherapist is looking for a connection of past problems to issues now present in the real world.
Counseling can also be described as problem solving, whereas psychotherapy is more analytical.
Not all therapists feel that there is a distinction between counseling and psychotherapy. In actual practice there may be quite a bit of overlap.
See What We Treat for Focus Areas and Clinical Interests
What Is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is a process focused on helping you heal and learn more constructive ways to deal with the problems or issues in your life. At the onset of treatment, you and your therapist will collaboratively decide upon specific goals and the plan for reaching those goals.
Often there will be a psycho-educational component to the ongoing sessions. This allows individuals to learn more about what they are dealing with, as well as new coping strategies. Sometimes clients will be asked to do homework or practice a technique outside of the office.
Most psychotherapy today is short-term and lasts less than a year. Most common mental disorders can often be successfully treated in this time frame, often with a combination of psychotherapy and medications.
In cases where a client simply wants to solve a particular problem or is having a hard time moving beyond an issue, there is Brief Therapy. Brief therapy focuses on a specific problem and a direct intervention. In Brief Therapy, the therapist works more pro-actively with the client in order to treat clinical and subjective conditions faster. It also emphasizes precise observation, utilization of natural resources, and temporary suspension of disbelief to consider new perspectives and multiple viewpoints.
Psychotherapy is most successful when the individual has a strong desire to change.
Change means altering those aspects of your life that aren’t working for you any longer. It is also best to keep an open mind while in psychotherapy, and be willing to try out new things that ordinarily you may not do.
With non-judgmental support and guidance, clients can expect to gain a greater sense of empowerment, purpose, and fulfillment in their lives.
We have experience working with the following individual issues:
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (formerly Dysthymic Disorder)
- Cyclothymic Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Social Anxiety
- Phobias
- Agoraphobia
Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
Adjustment Disorder - is a short-term condition that occurs when a person has great difficulty coping with, or adjusting to, a particular source of stress, such as a major life change, loss, or event. Adjustment disorder is sometimes informally called "situational depression." The type of stress that can trigger an adjustment disorder/stress response syndrome varies depending on the person, but can include:
- life transitions
- relationship issues
- losing or changing jobs
- chronic pain or illness
- having an accident
- being a victim of a crime
- retiring from a job
- living through a disaster, such as a fire, flood, or hurricane
See What We Treat for Focus Areas and Clinical Interests
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy provides you with the opportunity to meet with other individuals who are dealing with your similar challenges. It gives you the sense of community - that you are not alone in your struggles. In the safe and confidential environment of the group, you will receive support, encouragement, resources, multiple perspectives and feedback.
Group therapy can help you feel a sense of connection to other people,who can provide acceptance and validation.
Additionally, it can be a more affordable option to individual therapy and research shows, just as effective.
What Is Couples Therapy?
As couples go through their lives, they either grow together or they grow apart. Daily stressors and major life changes can strain the relationship.
Most couples that come to counseling have issues concerning money, sex, infidelity, in-laws or children. You and your partner may be having difficulty feeling connected, communicating effectively, managing and resolving conflict, or healing from trust issues.
If you find yourself frustrated and unhappy in your relationship, not able to get your partner to see your point of view, or even contemplating ending the relationship, couples therapy might be worth considering.
A therapist is not going to "pick sides" or assign blame. Rather, he/she will try and make sense of what is going on in the relationship, parse out the issues, find out where the communication breakdowns occur and set expectations.
While in counseling, you might work through the issues and strengthen your relationship, or you might decide the best course of action is to move on. Regardless of the outcome, the process will allow both partners to better understand each other, express their feelings and needs, identify unhealthy patterns and create new ways of relating to each other.
