Individual Counseling

Psychotherapy is a process that focuses on growth and change.  Talking about our issues and accessing and understanding our feelings make it possible to become more aware of the source of our problems.  This awareness allows us to make the most out of the options we have in our lives.  The psychotherapy process is about finding ways to deal more effectively with feelings, behaviors, relationships and life’s issues.

 Psychotherapy is a personal experience that’s different for each patient and therapist.  Although treatment approaches vary depending on therapist, the initial appointment often follows a general pattern.  Psychotherapy begins with a period of evaluation during which you will discuss the reasons for seeking treatment.  This process gives the therapist the opportunity to learn about you, develop an understanding about your issues and to formulate ideas about how treatment should proceed.  Your therapist will work with you to explore past conflicts in relation to your current problem in order to make change possible.  This phase of interviewing and learning may take place in one session or over a series of sessions, depending on the therapist’s style.  During the initial sessions, such factors as frequency and length of sessions and the policy for payment will be discussed.  At some point within the first few sessions, you and your therapist will come to a mutual understanding of the goals for treatment.  After this point, the sessions will become less like an interview; you will be asked to say whatever is on your mind.  Your therapist will listen and help you identify patterns of thinking, feeling and interacting that may be contributing to your current struggles.  Deeper awareness and new insights stimulate psychological growth and change.  In addition, you may have questions about medication and if need arises, our therapists will consult with your psychiatrist or general practitioner for a medication evaluation.  Treatment continues until the troubling symptoms have been reduced or alleviated and you are consistently making use of more adaptive ways of coping with greater insight. 

(Donald J. Franklin, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist.

Psychotherapy is a process by which you examine your thoughts, feelings, actions and relationships.  With the assistance of a skilled professional, evaluate where problems exist, or where changes are likely to improve your life satisfaction and overall psychological adjustment. You can then learn how to make the changes that are necessary to achieve better life adjustment and satisfaction.

The terms counseling and psychotherapy are interchangeable because they describe the same process, and have similar goals. Counseling has its roots in personal development and life adjustment theory, while psychotherapy has its roots in a more medically oriented model of treating a mental disease process. Health insurance companies use a medical disease model, so insurance reimbursement is for "psychotherapy" not "counseling." The distinction is unimportant in applying the process to life management problems, although sometimes lesser trained counselors will use the term counseling to avoid being accused of providing treatment services they are not qualified to provide.

Psychotherapy involves:

• Guided self-assessment to identify life adjustment problems, personal conflicts, relationship issues, behavioral problems, family conflicts, self-identity issues, emotional problems, and/or life stage development issues that are interfering with overall life adjustment, emotional well-being, and life satisfaction
• Exploration and identification of the origins of these problems, conflicts and/or issues, both psychologically and factually
• Development of a plan for change to resolve these problems and/or issues, including both personal psychological changes, and situational life changes 
• Assistance in making the necessary personal and life changes, through coaching, psychological education, ongoing behavioral and emotional analysis and feedback, emotional support, behavioral and cognitive training, and assistance in reformulating life goals and plans to achieve those goals.    

Psychotherapy appointments are usually scheduled once per week. This allows for steady progress toward resolving the presenting problem, and allows enough time between sessions for you to work on issues discussed in the session. Occasionally, if a life crisis occurs, or if depression or anxiety are particularly severe, sessions may be scheduled more frequently. Once therapy progress is being made, some psychologists will schedule sessions less than once per week, if they feel that progress will not be hampered by the change in schedule.

Psychotherapy may be helpful to you when:

• You feel overwhelmed by life problems
• Depression, anxiety or anger are taking over your life
• You don't know how to manage a major life decision
• You are having trouble with a major relationship
• You are having difficulty coping with a serious illness in yourself, or in a family member or friend
• Your job is too stressful and you can't handle it anymore
• You don't know what to do, or where to turn for help