Services

Something happened that threatened your survival. It may have been a single event, like an injury or car accident; or many events stretched out over time, like prolonged abuse, war, or first responders attending to medical emergencies. The threat to your survival may have been physical or emotional, such as domestic violence, bullying, or verbal abuse. Now maybe you cannot seem to move on from it, no matter how much you, or other people in your life, think you should. The thoughts, the memories come back to you repeatedly, when something reminds you of the incident, whether it is returning to a similar place or possibly in dreams. You may have been robbed of your ability to trust others, to feel safe, to find comfort in relationships. You may become fearful, withdrawn, depressed, or angry avoiding anything that reminds you of the situation. Thoughts, memories, and emotions from traumatic events come back repeatedly because they do not fit anywhere. Our brains do not know what to do with them, so they cannot find a resting place. You do not have to continue a life with these feelings and experiences. We can help.

Do you feel sad, alone, empty, or hopeless most of the day? Have you lost interest in being around friends or family or participating in pleasurable hobbies? Do you have trouble sleeping, eating, or functioning? If you feel this way, you may have depression. Depression for you may have recently begun, or you may be having it for too long that you do not remember ever feeling good. For many, depression returns repeatedly, even when we think we have overcome it. Over time, this can result in the feeling that things will never get better. This is simply not true. You can experience a life filled with peace and joy. We are here to help accomplish that for you.

Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making an important decision. Anxiety disorders involve more than just temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms of anxiety can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships. Once you learn certain tools and skills that reduce anxiety, confidence can increase, and better ability to function will occur. Relief is possible. Seek our help today.

There are several types of mood disorders. Some examples of mood disorders include:

• Major depressive disorder — prolonged and persistent periods of extreme sadness
• Bipolar disorder — also called manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, depression that includes alternating times of depression and mania
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a form of depression most often associated with fewer hours of daylight in the far northern and southern latitudes from late fall to early spring but can occur anywhere
• Cyclothymic disorder — a disorder that causes emotional ups and downs that are less extreme than bipolar disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — mood changes and irritability that occur during the premenstrual phase of a woman’s cycle and go away with the onset of menses
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) — a long-term (chronic) form of depression
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder — a disorder of chronic, severe, and persistent irritability in children that often includes frequent temper outbursts that are inconsistent with the child’s developmental age
• Depression related to medical illness — a persistent depressed mood and a significant loss of pleasure in most or all activities directly related to the physical effects of another medical condition
• Depression induced by substance use or medication ― depression symptoms that develop during or soon after substance use or withdrawal or after exposure to a medication

We would like to help. Talk to us today.

Have you ever had recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make you feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions)? These repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions. Many people have focused thoughts or repeated behaviors. However, these do not disrupt daily life and may add structure or make tasks easier. For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent, routines and behaviors are rigid, and failing to do them causes great distress. Those with OCD have a hard time keeping their focus off the obsessions or stopping the compulsive actions. Having OCD can be debilitating, but you can do something about it. Seek help from our mental health professionals today.

A person with a personality disorder has rigid and unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning, and behaving. There may be difficulty perceiving and relating to situations and people. The type of treatment depends on the specific personality disorder, the severity, and the individual’s circumstances. Seek our help today.

Self-esteem can influence life in many ways, from academic and professional success to relationships and mental health. How you feel about yourself can predict a certain outcome. Self-esteem is your overall opinion of yourself; how you feel about your abilities and limitations. When you have healthy self-esteem, you feel good about yourself and see yourself as deserving the respect of others. When you have low self-esteem, you put little value on your opinions and ideas. You might constantly worry that you are not good enough. Relationships with those close to you — parents, siblings, peers, teachers, and other important contacts — are important to your self-esteem. Many beliefs you hold about yourself today reflect messages you have received from these people over time. Experiences and relationships from the past do not have to control your future. Your own thoughts may have the biggest impact on self-esteem — and these thoughts are within your control. We have the knowledge and expertise to help.

Do you expend all of your energy in meeting your partner’s needs? Do you feel trapped in your relationship? Are you the one that is constantly making sacrifices in your relationship? Then you may be in a codependent relationship. Researchers also found that codependent symptoms continue to get worse if left untreated. The good news is that they are reversible. There is help for recovery and change for people who are codependent. The first step is getting guidance and support. We are ready to help.

Symptoms of Codependency

• Low self-esteem: Feeling that you are not good enough or comparing yourself to others are signs of low self-esteem. However, some think highly of themselves, but it is only a disguise — they actually feel unlovable or inadequate. Underneath, there are feelings of shame and guilt.
• People-pleasing: It is good to want to please someone you care about, but codependents usually don’t think they have a choice. Saying “No” causes them anxiety. Some codependents have a hard time saying “No” to everyone. Someone who is codependent goes out of their way and sacrifices their own needs to accommodate other people.
• Poor boundaries: Boundaries are an imaginary line between you and others. It divides what are yours and somebody else’s, and that applies not only to your body, money, and belongings, but also to your feelings, thoughts and needs. That is especially where codependents get into trouble. They have blurry or weak boundaries. They feel responsible for other people’s feelings and problems or blame their own problems on someone else. Some codependents have rigid boundaries and are closed off and withdrawn, making it hard for other people to get close to them. Sometimes, codependents go back and forth between weak and rigid boundaries.
• Reactivity: A consequence of poor boundaries is that you react to everyone’s thoughts and feelings. If someone says something you disagree with, you either believe it or become defensive. You absorb their words, because there is no boundary. With a boundary, you would realize it was just their opinion and not a reflection of you and not feel threatened by disagreements.
• Caretaking: Another effect of poor boundaries is that if someone else has a problem, you want to help them to the point that you give up yourself. It is natural to feel empathy and sympathy for someone, but codependents start putting other people ahead of themselves. In fact, they need to help and might feel rejected if another person does not want their help. Moreover, they keep trying to help and fix the other person, even when that person clearly is not taking their advice.
• Control: Control helps codependents feel safe and secure. Everyone needs some control over events in their life. You would not want to live in constant uncertainty and chaos, but for codependents, control limits their ability to take risks and share your feelings. Sometimes they have an addiction that either helps them loosen up (alcoholism), or helps them hold their feelings down, (workaholic), so that they do not feel out of control. Codependents also need to control those close to them, because they need other people to behave in a certain way to feel okay. In fact, people pleasing and care taking can be used to control and manipulate others. Alternatively, codependents are bossy and tell you what you should or should not do. This is a violation of someone else’s boundary.
• Dysfunctional communication: Codependents have trouble communicating their thoughts, feelings and needs. Of course, if you do not know what you think, feel or need, this becomes a problem. Other times, you know, but you will not own up to your truth. You are afraid to be truthful, because you do not want to upset someone else. Instead of saying, “I don’t like that,” you might pretend that it is okay or tell someone what to do. Communication becomes dishonest and confusing when you try to manipulate the other person out of fear.
• Obsessions: Codependents have a tendency to spend their time thinking about other people or relationships. This is caused by their dependency, anxieties, and fears. They can also become obsessed when they think they have made or might make a “mistake.” Sometimes you can lapse into a fantasy about how you would like things to be or about someone you love as a way to avoid the pain of the present. This is one way to stay in denial, as discussed below, but it keeps you from living your life.
• Dependency: Codependents need other people to like them to feel okay about themselves. They are afraid of being rejected or abandoned, even if they can function on their own. Others need always to be in a relationship, because they feel depressed or lonely when they are by themselves for too long. This trait makes it hard for them to end a relationship, even when the relationship is painful or abusive. They end up feeling trapped.
• Denial: One of the problems people face in getting help for codependency is that they are in denial about it, meaning that they do not face their problem. Usually they think the problem is someone else or the situation. They either keep complaining or trying to fix the other person, or go from one relationship or job to another and never own up the fact that they have a problem. Codependents also deny their feelings and needs. Often, they do not know what they are feeling and instead focus on what others are feeling. The same thing is true for their needs. They pay attention to other people’s needs and not their own. They might be in denial of their need for space and autonomy. Although, some codependents seem needy, others act as if they are self-sufficient and not needing help. They refuse to reach out and have trouble receiving. They are in denial of their vulnerability and need for love and intimacy.
• Problems with intimacy: This is not a reference to sexual relations, although sexual dysfunction often is a reflection of an intimacy problem. The reference is about being open and close with someone in an intimate relationship. Because of the shame and weak boundaries, you might fear judgement, rejection and abandonment. On the other hand, you may fear being smothered in a relationship and losing your autonomy. You might deny your need for closeness and feel that your partner wants too much of your time; your partner complains that you are unavailable, but he or she is denying his or her need for some separation.
• Painful emotions: Codependency creates stress and leads to painful emotions. Shame and low self-esteem create anxiety and fear about being judged, rejected or abandoned; making mistakes; being a failure; feeling trapped by being close or being alone. The other symptoms lead to feelings of anger and resentment, depression, hopelessness, and despair. When the feelings are too much, you can feel numb.

CBT is a goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment aimed at changing our thoughts that affect how we feel and behave. Much of how we feel is determined by what we think. Changing our way of thinking can change these feelings and behaviors which will then promote a person’s functionality.

TF-CBT is a treatment for children and adolescents, as well as their caregivers and parents who have experienced trauma. TF-CBT is designed to address traumas related to sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, community violence, unexpected death of a loved one, natural disasters, and war.

EMDR is the gold standard of care for the treatment of trauma and is particularly effective in physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, natural disasters, PTSD, as well as many other traumas.  EMDR uses tactile or eye movements to lessen the effects of past traumas or traumatic events that affect daily functioning. Want to learn more? Click here for a link to a helpful video.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a structured program of psychotherapy with a strong educational component designed to provide skills for managing intense emotions and negotiating social relationships.

Sand Tray, also called Sand Play, is a treatment that uses sand and miniatures to allow the individual to express images, emotions, and conflicts that they are not able to express verbally.

Play Therapy helps children express their emotions, improve communication, and resolve conflicts through play.

Unlike most psychotherapy treatments, Solution-Focused therapy places focus on a person’s present and future circumstances and goals rather than experiences to trigger growth in the individual.

Grief Counseling is used to guide individuals who have experienced loss. Through this service, counselors support their clients physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

Family therapy can help families overcome situations that cause stress, grief, anger, or conflict. It can help family members learn better ways to communicate with each other to nurture growth and healing.

Spirituality is from a Christian perspective. Jesus the Messiah is the foundation of my ministry. Prayer and counsel are provided upon request. No one is turned away for their beliefs.

“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”— I Corinthians 9:22

Commonly known as horse therapy, this therapy involves the help of horses and an equine environment to allow an experiential interaction in individuals with issues/mental health conditions and foster growth.

We now have a petting zoo that includes various animals. This therapy builds on the natural human-animal bond.

• 

• 

• 

•