Counseling for Individuals

The stress, loneliness and shame you’re experiencing can be overwhelming. You’ve probably been living with some of these feelings for years, and may not know if or how you can ever change. The good news is that you can, and I’d like to help you do just that. I’ve had my own difficulties with trying to be perfect and taking care of everyone else, and I’ve learned how to overcome those feelings and create a happier life. Through my own personal experience as well as my professional education and training, I’ve developed a deep understanding of these challenges and how to help others overcome them.

How does counseling help?

• You’ll learn how to deal with and resolve the painful feelings that have become a constant companion in your life.
• We’ll work on changing how you deal with conflict, mistakes, and failures so that you no longer dread them.
• You’ll learn how to manage the challenge of caring about others while not getting so caught up in their moods and feelings.
• We’ll improve your boundaries – how to recognize when they’re being violated, how to set them effectively, why it’s difficult to set them, and how important they are to having your relationships be happy and healthy instead of frustrating and resentment-filled.
• We’ll help you get clarity about what’s truly important to you and how to keep those priorities in focus while living in our busy, demanding, distraction-filled world.
• I’ll help you understand the ways in which your life experience may have created a distorted image of what’s ‘normal’, and we’ll work to replace that with a realistic picture of a healthy life and relationships.

You didn’t cause it – but counseling can help you do something about it

Many people I’ve worked with have strong feelings of shame – a sense of of being ‘less than’ or ‘defective’. Often, these feelings originate through experiences in our past. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that you experienced some significant challenges in your childhood – you may have experienced neglect or abuse, witnessed lots of fighting between others in the home, or had to deal with the impact of substance abuse by a parent or close family member. The challenges of growing up in that type of environment are significant – the rules are different, and the tools one learns to cope with those challenges in childhood often lead to problems as an adult. In counseling, you can learn the ‘right’ rules, and the tools you need to play by those rules successfully.

Putting yourself first isn’t selfish – it’s time to take care of you!

We live in a world of ever-increasing (and unrealistic) demands. The reality is that we can’t “do it all”, and if we try too hard to meet those outside expectations, problems are sure to follow. If you want  successful relationships and a healthy, happy life, you need to learn how to balance your needs and the needs of others.

Life is short, and you don’t have to live it in pain. Take some time to learn more about me, read my blog, and find answers to common questions here on the site.  After that, schedule an appointment online or contact me with any other questions you have and we’ll get started on your path to a better life.