Individual Therapy
Depression
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. Thoreau
Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S., and it affects more than 15 million American adults age 18 and older.
Depression disconnects people from their own life, and for many it means not enjoying life, feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, not sleeping, changes in appetite, persistent feelings of emptiness, decreased energy and fatigue, and the need to self isolate. For many, difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, suicidal thoughts, and restlessness are an added burden.
Depression, especially more severe depression, is a complex disease and research has yet to uncover a sole cause.
To see what some of the causes of depression are, see here
Stress, Anxiety & Panic
Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on. J.H.
Most people who suffer depression also suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18% of the population.
Experiencing some anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders usually have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. For them, anxiety turns into heightened feelings of being nervous, restless or tense, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, feeling fatigued or worn out, trouble concentrating, insomnia, excessive worry, and avoiding places or people that bring out anxious feelings.
To learn more, see here
Anger Management & Rage
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean. Maya Angelou
Anger is a common and healthy emotion, most people get angry 2-4 times per month. Anger becomes unhealthy and even toxic when it is unrelenting or when it turns to rage and becomes all-consuming. Unrelenting anger and rage can result in severe depression, violence and suicidal thoughts.
Studies indicate that roughly 22-25 million Americans, or 9% of adults, have impulsive outbursts in which they destroy relationships and property, and are out of control. Approximately 4 million of them also carry a firearm "just in case."
Anger is not something you cure, but you can learn to manage the severity and effect it has on you and others. Reducing your reactivity to situations, learning assertiveness skills and a bit of patience along the way, is the solution.
To learn more, see here
PTSD and Trauma
Trauma creates change you don't choose. Healing creates change you do choose. Michelle Rosenthall
If you’ve experienced a particularly stressful or distressing event, and you feel vulnerable and emotionally out of control, you may have been traumatized. A shocking event, or a series of traumas can create highly upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that can last for weeks, months and even years. Such events can leave you feeling numb, detached, and unable to trust others.
About 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives. For women, trauma occurs most frequently in the form of sexual assault or through abuse. For men, most traumatic events occur via accidents, an assault, through combat, disaster, or as a witness death or injury.
We use EMDR Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat the after-effects of trauma.
Self Confidence & Assertiveness
Be decisive. Right or wrong, make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision (bumper sticker)
Non-assertiveness is generally a learned behavior. It is a set of attitudes and beliefs about how one has to please others, not rock the boat, and be quiet for the purpose of keeping the peace. Not being assertive can lead to:
- Depression and Anxiety--Anger turned inward, a sense of being helpless, hopeless, or of having no control over your life, and stress.
- Resentment--Anger at others for manipulating or taking advantage of you, and anger at yourself for "being weak".
- Frustration--Questioning and downing yourself for allowing things to happen.
- Rage or even aggression when bottling up emotions becomes overwhelming.
Assertive behaviors lead to increased self-respect and self-confidence (and vice versa), and respect from others. Appropriately timed and expressed assertiveness allows others to see you as a worthwhile person, and someone who can be trusted to be honest. Assertiveness allows for developing closer, more fulfilling and richer relationships.
Child & Adolescent Problems
We suffer more often in imagination than in reality. Seneca
The most common child and adolescent problems we see center around defiance, ADHD, behaviors linked to an Autism Spectrum Disorder, too much screen time, poor anger management, excessive worry and anxiety, and depression.
Over 90% of child and adolescent behavior problems can be resolved through modifying parenting behaviors and through a behavioral contract. More severe problems, such aggression, verbally abusive behavior, drug/alcohol abuse, and symptoms of ADHD and Autism, may require individual and family therapy.
At times, children and adolescents carry the family "toxin". That is, they display or manifest whole family problems since they have fewer resources for hiding and managing their pain or trauma.