Helping You Through Life’s Ups & Downs
There are times when we all need a little help dealing with the curve balls life throws at us, and that’s what therapy’s all about. Many people think of visiting a therapist as something that’s only necessary if you have a specific diagnosis like clinical depression or PTSD, but really, you can partner with a counselor to work through any of life’s challenges. To be clear, counselors do work with patients who have a wide range of diagnoses as well, but no matter what brings you to our office, our goal is to help you move towards creating a healthy and fulfilling life. At Stokes Counseling Services, we provide sessions in our Naugatuck office, virtually using telehealth software, and in the home for those families who are participants in our FAM program.
What is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy may also be referred to as counseling or psychotherapy. Many people think of therapy as the sessions themselves which may take place in our office, virtually via video chat, in a hospital setting, or even in the home in some cases. However, therapy is more of a process than an event. Your sessions are important, but you need to continue working outside of these visits with the counselor to see real change. When you partner with a professional counselor, you’ll receive the guidance to safely and effectively explore emotions, beliefs, and behaviors that you may be struggling with.
When Should I Consider Therapy?
As we’ve already discussed, some people come to us after being diagnosed with a specific condition like anxiety or depression. Others choose to visit following a life event like a death in the family or losing their job. Still others simply want someone to help them think through some of their current struggles to make progress towards a specific goal. Some of the common “triggers” that push people to visit us include the following:
- Repeating patterns – this can be any number of behaviors, and not all of them are necessarily “bad” behaviors. If you find yourself repeatedly in the same places personally, relationally, or professionally and want help to break the cycle, therapy may be a good option for you.
- Feeling stuck – are you mad all the time, and you don’t even know why? Sad? Lonely? Anxious? Being stuck feeling only one emotion for days at a time can be a sign that there are underlying concerns you need to address, so you can return to the healthy range of emotions we all experience. Working with a skilled therapist can give you the tools you need to determine the underlying reasons you feel stuck on an emotion and move past the issues to lead a more fulfilling life.
- Struggling to make a decision – some people find talking to friends or family members is an effective way to get the help they need to make a difficult decision. However, counselors have the training to assist you in understanding why you’re struggling to find an answer, and guide you to making the right decision to ensure you achieve your short and longer-term goals.
- Feeling numb – you just don’t get the joy you used to out of life, you don’t care about things that used to be priorities, or you can’t find the motivation to participate in activities you used to care about. This numbness is one of the common signs of depression and mood disorder. For many, the numbness lifts, and they can go back to their everyday lives, but others, will only fall more deeply into this state. If you’re dealing with these issues, therapy can help you recognize the signs of depression or mood disorder and start working through these conditions in partnership with a skilled counselor.
- Unhealthy relationships – this may be any kind of unhealthy relationships, including family members, spouses, and even friendships or business partners. Relationships can become unhealthy for a number of reasons, including abuse, betrayal, or infidelity. Many couples also struggle with child rearing, infertility, and other issues surrounding family building. Whatever your concerns, a counselor can help you achieve safe and healthy fulfilling relationship.
- Struggling with past events – shame, regret, loss, and trauma from the past can all haunt our days and nights if we don’t take steps to address them. Whether you simply want to start working through past losses or you’ve been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other specific conditions, working with a counselor can help you address these past difficulties.
What Happens During Individual Therapy Sessions?
Each session will be different depending on your needs and goals. The first session, sometimes referred to as an intake or assessment, will be unique. During this appointment, we will want to ask questions to ensure we have a good understanding of your situation. You should also feel free to ask us any questions you have to ensure you are comfortable working with the counselor you’ve chosen. These initial visits are important to establish a positive partnership with your clinician, so you can work together towards all of your therapy goals.
Ongoing sessions should be problem solving and goal-oriented. Your counselor will partner with you to understand the struggles you’re dealing with and develop skills to address your concerns head on. Depending on which counselor you work with, we may use a variety of strengths-based and results-oriented therapeutic methods to help you achieve your goals and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
Who Offers Individual Therapy?
Almost all of our skilled counselors offer individual therapy sessions using a variety of techniques and treatment approaches. We each have our own unique areas of expertise and work with patient of different age ranges. You can find out more about our counselors on our team page.
How do I Get Started?
To get started, simply give the Stokes Counseling Services team a call or complete our request form. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and schedule a first session for you in our Naugatuck office. We are also proud to offer telehealth counseling services online, if you would prefer to conduct your sessions virtually.