Individual Therapy for Adults
Are you struggling?
Maybe you live with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or other issues that keep you from living a life that you enjoy.
Maybe you’re feeling empty… as though you’re just going through life’s motions.
Maybe you’re struggling with decisions or relationships.
During the day, you are doing what you need to do. Tasks are getting done, but these don’t define who you are. They are parts of you, spouse, parent, friend, advocate, co-worker, colleague.
Between these interactions, when you’re by yourself, like while driving, cooking, or showering, you feel something is missing… what is it? An inner feeling of peace, contentment, pure joy, self-worth? You are worried about your future, your career, your relationships, or your children too much.
Maybe you are just worried about getting through the next day without being irritable or depressed. Or you are always comparing yourself to others and feel you don’t measure up.
Sometimes you feel anxious when your thoughts take over. Many times, your thoughts immediately go to a worst-case scenario or are like a train rolling through your head.
A feeling of tightness comes over your chest. You just want to scream or curse out loud! But you don’t – it comes in waves, as you convince yourself that everything will be fine – you have a great life. This cycle frustrates you.
Reaching out to busy women and men out there… I know it’s tough!
Maybe you feel you can’t fit a therapy session into your busy schedule.
You think about doing something about these nagging issues and commit to looking for help by searching the Internet or calling tomorrow… somehow, those moments don’t materialize, and you’re in the same position a week later. Yes, you are busy, but sometimes you put other duties, chores, and events first to avoid taking on something else that feels daunting, like taking the first step toward therapy.
Of course, you don’t want to take away time from the meaningful interactions you have with family and friends, or even from work. But maybe there is some time you can free up for therapy for yourself.
As you consider your downtime activities, there may be some adjustments you can make.
You can monitor your activities like TV and Internet use. Try to DVR some shows, reduce social media use or online shopping, or try to catch yourself and minimize the time you’ve gone down a rabbit hole on the Internet while you’re paying your bills, spending more time than you wanted. I know how that can happen!
In the end, you may find that you have the time for therapy. It is possible! And if you consider the teletherapy option, it won’t even involve travel time! Isn’t it worth making time for yourself to gain a new outlook on life?
Isn’t it time for a little self-care? Think about it…
Remember, you are more important than the collective tasks you do daily.
You are productive at work. You do so much for others. You keep a grueling schedule with all your familial and community responsibilities.
But you are more than that. You are a person with deep values, profound thoughts, and a range of emotions that are yours alone. Therefore, self-care is so important, and you are worth taking the time for it.
An incredibly wise person once said that you couldn’t take care of anyone else effectively unless you take care of yourself first. That wasn’t me… I learned the hard way and still must catch myself sometimes. I’m learning, and so can you.
Self-care can be as simple as taking ten extra minutes in the bathroom to put on body moisturizer or as lavish as a weekend spa getaway, with therapy sessions somewhere on that continuum. The benefits of self-care include more energy, increased confidence, and self-appreciation.
Self-care also helps you to be calmer and more relaxed – it re-energizes you. You will feel less taxed when tending to your what seems like endless responsibilities. Without self-care, burn out (think caregiving, career, parenting, etc.) ensues. Self-care! You can do it! You deserve it!
You need a sounding board… or more. I can help.
I am here to listen, guide, and support you on your way to being the person you want to be. I provide a safe place, with empathy and understanding, so you feel comfortable sharing your deepest concerns.
You will learn about yourself, learn to manage your emotions, and gain the confidence to forge ahead with a more positive sense of self.
I understand this is a big step. Turning your focus inward is a shift.
As we use a person-centered approach, which is a therapy that allows you to tell your story openly with me listening intently and empathically, in the safe confines of an in-person or virtual office, we will determine your goals and a plan for future sessions. This may be the primary mode of therapy, or we may integrate some “homework” for you to use at home, such as deep breathing exercises, affirmations, journaling, committing to a form of self-care at home with a specified frequency, to name a few.
We may use other therapy modes in session to reduce anxiety, including mindfulness practice, to help focus on the present instead of the past or future, where anxiety tends to grow. Should there be presenting trauma, we may use EMDR.
There are elements of many therapies I like to use, depending on each client. You are your own person, like no other. Your therapy will be suited just for you, based on your personality, needs, and goals.
We start with a talk therapy approach, and we build our relationship through authentic communication, a basis for successful outcomes!
Forming a therapeutic connection allows us to work together effectively.
The therapeutic connection or alliance is the relationship developed over time between you (client) and me (therapist). This relationship is important because it allows you to explore your experiences, bonds, and attachments through our therapy sessions.
This therapeutic relationship is known to have three components: an emotional bond of trust, caring, and respect; agreement on the goals of your therapy; and our collaborating on the treatment work. With these, we effectively engage with each other to promote the change you want to achieve in yourself.
To help develop a therapeutic connection with you, I will do my best to help you feel welcome by making eye contact, engaging you in conversation, assuring you feel safe. I will ask you what you would like to get out of therapy sessions.
I understand that relationships take time, and I will provide a non-judgmental environment for you to ease into and speak your mind.
Also, to assure my understanding and let you know I am truly listening, I will reflect, restate, summarize, or paraphrase at necessary times during sessions. I may ask for clarification. I will show you I am actively and empathically listening to you.
I will ask a lot of questions. I am interested in what you have to say. This will all work together to gain a trusting bond, caring, and mutual respect necessary for treatment to be successful.
My style is person-centered…
… and typically includes elements of various other modes of therapy to suit your individual needs.
I like the person-centered approach because it really falls in line with building the therapeutic alliance. My clients feel free to tell their stories and work effectively within that to discover they have the power to change elements of their life.
We build that mutual trusting bond and respect. However, adding elements of other therapies has been a beneficial addition to the sessions of many clients. We have discovered their issues may have come from a childhood trauma, in which case we might add a therapy called EMDR. In others, we may try exercises that help them change their thoughts, ultimately changing their behaviors (CBT).
I use homework frequently, as well. This helps my clients do some additional work at home to keep them focused on their goals when not in session.
Some homework may include affirmations, which has helped several clients improve their outlook! I even had one client who took the initiative to challenge herself to internalize them when using affirmations for a time. She came in more excited than ever to share her outcomes. Serious mindset change!
My bottom line is that I want to hear your story, and you deserve a place to tell it. That will always be the undercurrent of sessions, and the other therapeutic elements add layers to discover more of yours.
Once you take that first step, the rest will come.
Who knows what lies ahead…
Who knows what you can achieve when you feel better…
Who knows where therapy can take you…
I’d love to help you overcome the strongholds that keep you from living your best life. You deserve it!
Now is a great time to give me a call at (941) 404-5922.
You will receive a free 15-minute consultation either during this call or scheduled. During the consultation, I will briefly ask and answer questions, and we will determine if we are a good fit to work together.