Do I need counseling?

Quite a few people NEED counseling, but an even greater number of people WANT counseling. 

When might you WANT some professional help to deal with a problem?

If something in your life is causing you to:

• Eat more or lose your appetite
• Sleep more or feel unable to sleep
• Lose interest in the things you used to enjoy or overuse pleasure
• Worry all the time or feel unable to concentrate
• Feel afraid or anxious
• Feel depressed or hopeless

When do you NEED counseling?

• You can’t get out of bed.
• You don’t have any motivation.
• You are thinking of harming yourself or others.
• You are doing some behavior to excess, such as video games or spending.
• You feel your life is out of control.

How long will I be in therapy?

Some people report feeling better after the first session and some people find themselves coming 6 to 8 times to find a comfortable level of positive change. Some people even find a weekly or monthly visit to a therapist to be helpful for a year or more. 

In your first session, we will set some goals, including the number of sessions and whether you want to come weekly, every two weeks, or once a month.

What about medications?

I am trained to assess and diagnose mental illnesses, and to present treatment plans to you that have proven effective based on research in the mental health field. This might include antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, as well as other prescriptions as needed. You will be referred to your family physician or a psychiatrist for the prescription and further evaluation as indicated by your unique circumstances. 

Sometimes medications are definitely recommended and sometimes they are just one of several options you could take to improve your mental health. Depression and Anxiety can be gray areas where some clients will prefer to take medications and some clients will prefer to use Cognitive Behavior Therapy techniques for relief. I am trained to help you decide if you want to try antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, support you whether you take medications or not, and help you evaluate if current treatment plans are effective.