Individual Therapy & Counseling In Alpharetta GA, Roswell GA, Johns Creek GA, Cumming GA, Dunwoody GA, Sandy Springs GA, Kennesaw GA and Atlanta GA.

There are a variety of reasons why individuals seek out Individual therapy and counseling.  Individual therapy and counseling is a collaborative process between the therapist and client that aims to promote change and improve quality of life.  Therapy can help individuals confront barriers that may be interfering with their emotional and mental well-being.  Working with the right therapist can help an individual heal from past hurts, it can also be a process of personal growth.  The therapist client relationship is a unique relationship.  Establishing a trusting relationship with your therapist is one of the most important pieces of the therapeutic process that will help you on your journey.

I work with adolescents and adults for Individual therapy and counseling, and work with a wide range of issues and concerns.  Some of the issues I am most passionate about working with are:  relationship issues, life changes and transitions, family of origin issues, women’s issues, parenting issues and family conflict.  In addition, I frequently work with people who are struggling with anxiety, contemplating divorce, need help with communication skills, are in need of setting boundaries with people in their life.

I operate primarily from a psychodynamic perspective.  Psychodynamic theories focus on childhood experiences and believe these experiences are instrumental in shaping our behavior and personality.  In therapy we will review emotions, thoughts, early life experiences and beliefs to gain insight into your life and current challenges.  We will identify patterns that have developed over time, some that might be creating difficulties for you in your life and in your relationships.  Becoming aware of these recurring patterns can help individuals see how they have learned to cope with challenges in their lives, once you are aware of behaviors that are keeping you stuck you can begin to take steps to change those behaviors.

Mindfulness:

I frequently incorporate mindfulness into my work with individual clients.  There is a great deal of research that suggest that mindfulness practices can improve an individual’s mental health, it can literally change the brain.  Mindfulness has been proven to help with anxiety and mood problems.  What is mindfulness?  Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress reduction explains that, “mindfulness is awareness that arise through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”  When we are reactive, the opposite of being mindful, these behaviors can become habits that are not beneficial to our health and well-being that can create further distress for ourselves.  It is important and helpful to learn the difference between reacting with unawareness and responding with mindfulness.  You cannot always change your circumstances, but you can learn to mindfully change the way you respond to the situation.  It is possible to choose a more productive way of dealing with difficult, stressful situations rather than a counterproductive or even destructive way of dealing with it.   The following article, Mindulness can Literally Change your brain, by Christina Congleton, Britta K Holzel and Sara W Lazar explains the benefits mindfulness has on your brain.

Resources:

• Mindfulness Can Literally Change Your Brain
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