Serving Walnut Creek, Oakland, Concord, Lafayette, Alamo, Pleasant Hill, Orinda,

Martinez, Danville, Moraga, Lamorinda, Clayton, the East Bay, and all of Contra Costa County.

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Individual Counseling

Sometimes all we need is some troubleshooting or simply to say things out loud for the first time in order to get back on track. Individual counseling can help you solve problems, make decisions, process painful experiences, and develop new perspectives. The goal is to help you start living your best life or reclaim the happiness you once had. Individual therapy can help empower you to shape your life with greater intentionality going forward. 

My Approach to Individual Counseling

Each session lasts 50 minutes, which is the gold standard for individual therapy. During our sessions, we'll talk about what's on your mind and I'll ask questions as needed. I may suggest coping strategies, tools you can apply in your daily life, alternative ways of seeing things, and/or resources, based on my sense of what may benefit you the most.

Contrary to popular belief, effective therapy is not being asked, “So how does that make you feel?” over and over again.  Individual counseling is about targeted, practical discussions that can help you make positive changes in your life. We'll work together as a team to address the difficulties that brought you to counseling, and I'll provide guidance, support, insights, and information from the field of psychology that could make a tremendous difference in your life. 

Who Can Benefit from Individual Therapy?

You might feel the need to start counseling if you're burdened by thoughts and feelings that have a negative effect on your relationships, happiness, and/or your ability to function. For example, if you struggle with anxiety, irritability, or depression, therapy may help you address the underlying thoughts that cause you pain, allowing you to reduce or eliminate that source of suffering from your life.

Or, you might feel the need to start counseling if you've gone through a major life change, such as divorce, bankruptcy, a career change, a move, or the death of a loved one. These are just a few of the challenging life events any of us can face, and sometimes it's important to have an impartial, yet caring person to talk to as you work through your thoughts and feelings regarding these circumstances.

Speaking to a counselor can also be helpful when you're contemplating a major life decision or change. It will allow you to examine thoughts and emotions that might affect your decision-making process, and I can serve as a sounding board to help you make sure you're exercising good judgment. 

What Kinds of Problems Can Individual Therapy Address?

Individual counseling can help with depressionanxietyrelationship issues, low self-confidence, codependency, anger management, stress, divorce, financial problems, stressful current events, and more. 

If you'd like to discuss your goals for individual therapy and get a better sense of what it would be like to work with me, you're welcome to contact me to arrange a 15-minute phone consultation at no charge.