Individual therapy
Everybody needs help sometimes.
Unfortunately, nobody gave you an instruction manual for life. It can be difficult and overwhelming to try to figure it out on your own. Throughout most of history, humans lived in small groups. Therefore, guidance and emotional support were always available through other community members. These days most of us don’t have that support.
It makes sense that millions of people are struggling with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, loneliness, trauma, self-esteem issues, shame and guilt, or not knowing how to cope with emotions. On top of that, we live in an increasingly complicated world. This leads to many people who are finding it harder and harder to successfully navigate the stresses of adulthood. If any of this sounds like you, rest assured that help is out there and you are not alone.
Is individual therapy right for me?
Regardless of whether you are working to manage anxiety, combat depression or are dealing with substance abuse, individual therapy can help. In fact, individual counseling can help even if you are doing well on the surface and just want to find more meaning in your life.
If you’re reading this, you probably have some area of your life where you are struggling. There is a reason you’ve landed on this page. Maybe you’re experiencing a lot of anxiety. You’ve noticed there are things in your life you avoid so you don’t get too anxious. Or maybe you’ve been through something really stressful and are now experiencing signs of PTSD such as nightmares, feeling jumpy or intrusive memories of the traumatic event. You’ve heard EMDR therapy works and are wondering if it’s worth trying. Or perhaps it’s a completely different issue such as addiction or depression. Some people consider individual counseling just to help them find more of a direction in life and increase confidence.
Regardless, counseling is probably the next step. Individual counseling helps you discover and live as the best version of yourself. As I get to know you, I’ll choose a specific counseling modality or technique that matches with your specific needs and concerns. If you’re looking for a therapist who uses counseling methods that truly work while also getting to know you as an individual, you’re in the right place.
Finding a counselor you “click” with matters.
Research has shown that one of the most important factors in successful therapy for anxiety or depression is the relationship between client and therapist.
Having someone compassionate and caring to support you will help you start to feel better, and that’s only the beginning! Through counseling, we will figure out what your ideal life would look like, and build a road map for how to get there. I will help you learn specific new coping skills and tools along the way. If that sounds daunting, or if you don’t know what you want, that’s OK! It’s my job to help sort all that out.
Therapy is custom-tailored to each person who walks in the door. We will collaborate to develop a program to get the results you need, whether it is to manage anxiety or deal with trauma. I use evidence based counseling techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR and mindfulness to give you the most effective counseling possible. Therefore, not only will our therapy have goals and structure to keep everything focused. You will learn many concrete tools and strategies for improving your life.
What can we address in individual counseling sessions?
Everyone has a slightly different reason for coming to counseling and the truth is that individual counseling can help with many, many different things. Here are some of the common things people come in to my counseling office wanting to work on:
Depression
OCD
Shame and guilt
Trouble managing emotions
Existential angst / Finding purpose and meaning in life
Racing thoughts / Ruminating / Worry
Managing difficult relationships
Assertiveness and communication
Low self-esteem / Harsh inner critic
Procrastination
Difficulty navigating adulthood
Life transitions / Making big decisions
Identity struggles (including LGBTQ)
Spirituality
Anger
What's different about counseling at Strive On?
I’ve been in your position. I’ve seen several therapists in my life for a few different issues and have had good, bad, and neutral experiences. I've learned a lot from these experiences, and I work really hard to try to make sure that you have the best experience possible in therapy. For me this is not a job- it's my passion.
I spent most of my life struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. At one point I thought that I would never be able to lead a normal life. Over time I came to learn several methods that would ultimately give me my life back and inspire me to help others.
What’s different is that I understand the importance of good counseling. I believe in the power of individual counseling to help you really reach your specific mental health goals. And I am motivated to help you achieve real change in your life.
My Approach to Individual Counseling
Above everything else I place great value on the relationship I have with my clients. It's hard to fully trust a therapist with your deepest thoughts and feelings. I don't take that lightly. I try to provide the support, empathy, and compassion that you need no matter what. And whenever appropriate, I try to bring lightheartedness and comic relief into our work. People find me to be relatable and down-to-earth and I can typically get along with anybody.
I have dedicated myself to studying what I consider to be the most effective and impactful therapy modalities. I am one of only 3 therapists in Asheville, NC to be a member of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies- the only official credentialing body for CBT. I have also been practicing and studying Mindfulness Meditation since 2006. I have also spent many hours training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and several other modalities.
What can I expect from individual Counseling?
Therapy isn’t a magic wand. With the right effort and a competent and caring therapist, you can expect to see improvements in any number of things that are bothering you. No therapist can guarantee results (and if you meet one who does, I recommend a healthy dose of skepticism). We do know a few things that are proven to show results:
Therapist-client relationship matters the most.
Research has shown time and again that the biggest predictor of success in therapy is when the therapist and client have a solid and trusting relationship.
The more effort you put in, the more you get out.
Therapy involves learning new tools and sometimes making changes (big or small) in your life. The more diligent you are at applying these, the better success you will have.
Talking about it isn’t enough.
I know this from personal experience. No matter how compassionate your therapist is, if you don’t learn new tools, gain new insights, come up with actionable steps, and/or practice retraining your brain, things won’t get better. That’s why I’ve dedicated so much time to studying forms of therapy that address all of the above.
Our therapists want to help.
I really really want you to succeed. It’s the main reason why I do what I do. I can’t guarantee results, but I can guarantee that I do everything I can on my end to make them possible. If you’d like to hear what some past clients have to say about working with me, visit my testimonials page.
Begin Therapy for Anxiety or Depression in Asheville, NC 28801
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed from trying to manage anxiety, or are suffering from the symptoms of depression, our counselors would love to talk with you about how therapy can help.
To begin finding healing through anxiety treatment or depression counseling, follow these three easy steps:
Contact Me to set up a free consultation
Learn what makes Strive On Counseling different
Begin to find hope and peace.
Other Mental Health Services at Strive On Counseling
Whether you are learning how to manage anxiety or are coping with substance abuse, we would love to see you in our Asheville, NC counseling office. Learn more about what forms of therapy our counselors use, including EMDR for trauma, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, as well as acceptance and commitment therapy. If you are looking for an Asheville based counselor, we would love to talk more. Contact us to set up a free therapy consultation.