Counseling
Life often presents us with challenges. The way we cope might not always work. Finding different tools to deal with the difficulties of life can be empowering. Staying stuck in our problems and not seeking alternative perspectives can limit our personal freedom. Welcome to our website, where your personal journey of change can begin.
We are committed to improving your emotional, social, and work/academic life. We believe that approaches to treatment should be research informed. When we have evidence that a treatment works, that treatment is what we will use with our clients. We use evidence-based approaches and adapt them to each client. No one is exactly the same and all treatments need to be adapted to your particular life and needs.
Specialities
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are common mental health conditions that can significantly impact daily life. Fortunately, there are several evidence-based treatments available to effectively manage anxiety symptoms.
Treatments:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and challenging negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. CBT teaches coping mechanisms, such as relaxation techniques and exposure therapy.
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposes the patient to their feared situations or objects in a controlled and supportive environment. Over time, the patient learns to manage anxiety and reduce avoidance behaviors.
Providers and treatments they offer: - Amanda often uses the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorder, a CBT protocol that includes elements of exposure therapy.
- Timothy often uses ACT, a CBT intervention that incorporates mindfulness and cognitive restructuring.
Couples Counseling
Either for a check-up on how your relationship is going or for help with increasing problems, counseling might be helpful. It’s important that both partners are willing to come to therapy, and when you both are ready to attend, we’d be happy to help. We see couples of all sexual orientations consisting of two individuals.
Treatments:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Provider and treatments they offer: - Timothy offers couples counseling.
Depression
The treatment of depression focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to maintaining symptoms.
Treatments:
- Behavioral Activation
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Provider and treatments they offer: - Amanda uses Behavioral Activation, a CBT intervention combining an individual’s values and pleasant event scheduling. If suicidal ideation is part of the symptoms, she may include Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention/Crisis Response Planning.
- Timothy uses ACT.
Grief/loss
If you’ve experienced a recent loss, counseling might help. It’s normal to grieve after a loss, but if you find that you are having trouble functioning in daily life, counseling may be beneficial.
Treatments:
- Supportive Counseling
Provider and treatments they offer: - Timothy has been trained in counseling related to grief and loss.
Insomnia
If you have problems falling or staying asleep, you might have insomnia. Before counseling, meet with your medical provider to rule out other sleep disorders or health conditions. The first-line treatment for insomnia is counseling, not medication.
Treatments:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): Addresses thoughts and behaviors contributing to insomnia.
- Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBT-I): Similar to CBT-I but focuses on behavioral components.
Provider and treatments they offer: - Amanda can provide either CBT-I or BBT-I.
Problematic Eating
Either restrictive eating or binge and purge eating that does not require higher-level care or for those transitioning from residential programs.
Treatments:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Provider and treatments they offer: - Timothy works with individuals appropriate for outpatient treatment and uses CBT interventions.
Self-Esteem / Assertiveness
Counseling might help if you want to deal more effectively with others, feel taken advantage of, or want to improve self-worth.
Treatments:
- Assertiveness training
- Interpersonal effectiveness skills
- Supportive counseling
Provider and treatments they offer: - Amanda provides assertiveness training or interpersonal effectiveness skills depending on symptoms.
- Timothy provides supportive counseling.
Sexual Dysfunction
There are many issues that can develop when problems occur in the normal sexual response cycle (low desire, painful intercourse, erectile dysfunction, etc.). It’s important to first check with your doctor to rule out medical causes.
Treatments:
- Vary based on the specific problem; assessment helps clarify the best options.
Provider and treatments they offer: - Amanda offers several treatments for sexual dysfunction. (Note: Issues such as sexual addiction or attraction to non-human or underaged individuals are not treated here.)
Sport / Competition-Related Anxiety
Anxiety related to performance in sporting events, specifically competitions.
Treatments:
- Exposure-based therapy
Provider and treatments they offer: - Amanda uses exposure therapy and has helped adolescents and children in competitive American Ninja Warrior to perform better. Typically 1–2 sessions, best conducted at the training location, either individually or in groups/teams.
Trauma Survivor
Regardless of the type of trauma you’ve survived (e.g., abuse, assault, military deployment, or accidents), there are effective treatments.
Treatments:
- Prolonged Exposure (PE): Gradual exposure to trauma-related memories, thoughts, and situations (10–14 sessions).
- Written Exposure Therapy (WET): A brief 5-session treatment involving writing detailed trauma narratives and processing them in therapy.
Provider and treatments they offer: - Amanda provides PE or WET.
- Timothy offers supportive therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
