Services
Individual Counseling for Adults and Adolescents
Depression
Life has become heavier, darker. You might be feeling worn down, irritable, chronically sad, or even hopeless. It is harder to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Negative thoughts and perceptions come much more automatically than positive ones. In fact, it may even be painful to smile or laugh. You may be wondering what life would be like without you, or feel increasingly guilty about things. Maybe sleep and appetite has been different lately, or people in your life have expressed concern about your mood or isolation from others. You might cry more easily and more often. It is hard to feel interested in anything, and it’s hard to feel connected.
Anxiety
You are restless, fatigued, irritable, worried, and buzzing. It is either difficult to sit still, or you feel frozen and paralyzed by tension. You may have racing thoughts or general difficulty with concentration; you space out or your mind wanders often. Sometimes it feels as if your mind “goes blank.” You feel “on edge,” and worry about things often. It might be hard to sleep or wind down at night. The anxiety brings more anxiety, and it seems like a continuous cycle. It is hard to focus, to be aware of your surroundings, or keep your attention for long periods of time. Sometimes it is difficult to let go of your thoughts. You find yourself thinking “what if” and preparing for imagined scenarios or problems. All you want to do is to relax, but it seems impossible.
Relationship Issues
You struggle with a particular relationship or relationships in general. It is very difficult to trust or feel safe with others, even though you try. You are guarded and cautious, or overly vulnerable with others; boundaries are hard. Perhaps you feel taken advantage of at work, resentful in your marriage, lonely, or just find it overwhelming to be around people. You might compare yourself to others, feel inadequate, or not “good enough.” You worry about what others think of you, or you have simply stopped caring; being on your own is easier after all. There is a persistent fear of intimacy or a feeling of insecurity in relationships that impacts the quality of your life.
Trauma
You have experienced something— or perhaps many "somethings"— in your past that have been extremely difficult to live with and let go of. Maybe you have memories that come into your mind suddenly and unexpectedly or maybe there are gaps in your memory, but you aren’t sure why. The affect of this leaves you feeling stuck and trapped; you find it difficult to trust others and that the world can be a safe place. You might feel rage, apathy, numbness, helplessness, fear, or all of the above. You may be overly alert to your surroundings or feel disconnected to your body. It is almost always a struggle to rest into the moment, unless you are emotionally shut down or checked out. It seems like you will never overcome the shame, relax, feel connected to your body, feel in control of your emotions, focus, and move forward with your life. Avoidance seems like the only solution, and it’s hard to see a way forward.
Anger
Anger is difficult to tolerate— maybe because you have a short fuse and feel angry so frequently, or maybe because anger scares you. Regardless, you are not happy with your relationship to anger, you don’t understand it, and you want to feel more in control. Sometimes you either lash out or hold the anger in for so long that you have physical symptoms. Or perhaps it just lingers as resentment and judgment toward others. Maybe the anger you feel is about an injustice that has left you feeling helpless to do anything about it. Challenges with anger are impacting your life in unhelpful ways. You are looking for a way to tolerate it more easily and experience it more productively.
Life Changes
You are going through a big change in your life. You have just moved, started a new job, gone through a divorce, or changed careers. Perhaps you are considering a life change, but something is holding you back. The adjustment seems overwhelming and you need support. Maybe you are experiencing more intense emotions than usual, and aren’t sure why. You want things to be stable again— predictable. Perhaps you are seeking practical strategies for navigating the change such as how to apply for college or build a resume, or perhaps you need help building a sense of hope and purpose. Maybe you don’t know what you need, you just know you need help navigating these new waters.
Grief and Loss
Something or someone has gone from your life, either permanently or temporarily. It has left you with many mixed emotions and you’re unsure of how to proceed from here. You know you will never be the same again. You might fluctuate between feeling “normal” or even grateful, to feeling anger, sadness, and longing. There may even be a physical pain in your heart from the loss. You are able to laugh and experience joy, but other emotions are triggered easily. You might be wondering if you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder because of how difficult it has been to adjust. You find yourself not knowing exactly who you are anymore, or what you want in life since you experienced the loss.
Telehealth
You are somewhat fearful of leaving the home due to COVID or some other stressor. Or maybe commuting is difficult and lowers your quality of life. Maybe virtual meetings are easier to tolerate emotionally, or you live in another part of the state. That's ok! I offer both in-office and tele-therapy.