When should I seek counseling?
- When old methods aren’t working any longer.
- When martial tension is not successfully resolved.
- If problems continue or get worse.
- If you feel sad, irritable, nervous, or tense for prolonged periods of time (two weeks or more).
- If anger is getting out of control.
- When you consider leaving a job or serious relationship.
- When low self-esteem is hindering your success or relationships.
- When losses seem overwhelming.
- When a child’s or adolescent’s behavior is worsening significantly.
- When it is becoming increasingly difficult to perform your daily activities.
- When you have thoughts of harming yourself or others.
- When you are concerned about the emotional health of a family member or significant other.
- When you want to look at life and make decisions differently.
- When you want to find ways to change your life to feel more successful and satisfied.
Most people put off getting help for too long. It makes good sense to address issues as early as possible. Seeking counseling early can prevent much needless suffering. Change is sometimes necessary. Counseling is a valuable tool that can help one to change for the better. Seeking professional help can begin and accelerate the healing process and often makes a world of difference. Seeking counseling may be one of the best things you can do for yourself and/or those you love.
What type of counseling do you offer?
We can help you discover the type of counseling that is right for you. We have therapists with advanced certifications and training to address problems with depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, resentments, griefwork, and child behavior problems, to name a few.
Our staff is also remarkable for their religious and spiritual diversity. Every person on our staff is committed to a life of Christ-centered prayer and depends heavily on God for their own vitality and capacity to work effectively with people.
We believe you cannot give what you do not have! Several of our counselors would be happy to discern with you whether or not some form of inner healing prayer would be appropriate for you. Please be sure to mention your interest in this path to healing when you contact us.
Will counseling help me?
If you are motivated to grow in your capacity to live from your heart more freely and fully, then counseling will probably help. Some people choose counseling only after they have exhausted all other options and still can’t seem to find inner peace and heartfelt passion for life. Others come to counseling to maximize the love and passion in their lives before things get bad. We welcome the privilege of working with you regardless of where you are in your journey.
How often should I come to counseling?
Most people find that they achieve greater results with greater frequency of appointments, especially in the beginning. This means that your counselor will probably suggest that you meet once a week. As you experience progress toward your goals you and your counselor may decide to meet less frequently, but often enough to maintain progress. When goals have been reached, many clients like to come occasionally, to prevent relapse, until new patterns are firmly established in their life.
What should I expect at my first counseling session?
During your first appointment for counseling your counselor will need a summary of the problems or questions that have brought you to counseling in order to work with you to establish goals and an appropriate treatment plan. If you are seeking counseling as an adult you will meet with the counselor alone. The counselor will want to hear your history, including family history and dynamics, significant relationships, work, substance use, cultural background, major losses, traumas, medical issues, and any other information that may prove helpful.
For children and adolescents, the counselor will see only the parents for the first sessions. If there is a need for the child/adolescent to be seen on the same day, the session time will be split up between the parent and the child. Parents will be asked to provide information about their child’s developmental history, schooling, and social relationships, as well as other information that may be relevant to the difficulties the child is experiencing.
