What is Individual Counseling?

In Individual Counseling, clients work one-on-one with a therapist to explore their feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. Individual Therapy is done in a safe, comfortable, and confidential environment. Together, we will work through challenging or influential memories, identify aspects of their lives that they would like to change, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, and work toward desired change.

Individuals seek therapy for a wide variety of reasons, from coping with major life challenges or childhood trauma, to dealing with depression or anxiety, to simply desiring personal growth and greater self -esteem. A client and therapist may work together for as few as five or six sessions or as long as several years, depending on the client’s unique needs and personal goals for therapy. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you discover and learn about yourself. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Improving your relationships and interactions with others
• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communications and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Developing problem solving skills
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
• Finding peace and healing from trauma

What is Adolescent Counseling?

In my office, I see adolescents 14-19 years of age. Adolescents (teens), just like adults, experience stress during their life journey. Some common stressors for teens include school and family issues. A school related stress experience may include excessive or difficult homework, test anxiety, peer pressure, bullying, and learning difficulties. A family related stress experience may include parental arguing, divorce, moving homes, new sibling, major illness, grief or loss, and overall life transitions.

Teens can participate in and benefit from adolescent counseling. Teens often learn how to identify causes of their distress, develop their skills in asking for help and expressing emotions, develop healthy skills for coping with their emotions, and improve their problem-solving abilities.