I have three phases in my counseling sessions: Process, Problem-Solve, and Plan.

 

Process

The Process phase is when I help my clients think deeply about challenges and issues they face. We get to the heart of the thoughts and feelings around what is going on. We gain insights, find themes, and gain more understanding of what brings them to counseling. Having a safe, non-judgmental space to do this is healing.

 

Processing, or talking about deep issues, is healing in and of itself. Journaling is also such a great activity because it gives us the opportunity to process life. The difference between processing life through journaling verses counseling is counseling involves a trusted and unbiased third-party to give you support and help you find insights. No journal will ever express empathy, but a good counselor will. Every time.

 

Problem-Solve

After we think through what’s going on, we start the Problem-Solving phase of the session. There are many different challenges we face, and I help my clients think through how to improve their current situation.

 

You are the expert of your life. I respect your perspective, life experiences, thoughts, and feelings. I understand how to pursue mental health, and together, we find solutions to what you are experiencing. A solution might not “fix” the issue. Depression and anxiety might be life-long struggles. However, a solution could be finding positive ways to improve your overall health and well-being while managing depression and anxiety.

 

The main evidence-based counseling models I use are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Depending on my client’s needs, I utilize Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy too.

 

These models help me help you. We explore clinically proven ways to improve your life situation. If it’s anxiety and depression, we work on improving positive self-talk and challenging negative beliefs. We find healthy outlets that bring you energy, peace, and life. We find what worked for you in the past and apply those same techniques to your current challenge. You are able to improve your life, and counseling can help you get there.

 

Plan

Once we have problem-solved and found healthy ways to respond to your life situation, we make a plan. We talk about how you can implement the solutions discussed in the Problem-Solve phase in a practical way.

 

We discuss barriers and benefits. We discuss barriers that could get in the way of your solutions being successful and problem-solve how to resolve those barriers. We talk about the benefits of implementing changes. This helps us find motivation to make, sometimes difficult, changes.

 

In the Planning phase, we talk about when you will make changes. Dates, times, how long it will take, and how often to implement these actions. It’s helpful to say these commitments out loud. It makes them more real and more likely to be completed. We plan how you are going to make the changes necessary to improve your life.

 

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The entire point of this counseling process is to help you move towards your goals. The different phases may all happen in one session, or it could take months to go from the Process to the Problem-Solve phase. Each part of the counseling process will help you learn more about yourself, gain strength, and build confidence.

 

If you would like to start this counseling process with me, give me a call. I would be happy to help you move towards your goals.