Specializing in Individual, Family, and Premarital Counseling in Dalton, GA

  ADULT INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

 

•  Are you struggling with the symptoms of depression or anxiety and are looking for answers and relief?

• Do you feel stuck in life and powerless to achieve your goals physically, spiritually, or emotionally,?

• Do negative thoughts, feelings, or perceptions make it difficult to cultivate healthy relationships or perform well in your career?

• Has a recent life transition, such as a divorce or medical diagnosis, caused you to feel fearful and uncertain?

    

     There are times when we all struggle in life. Perhaps you're going through a period in which you are experiencing feelings of loss, sadness, anger, or regret that seem to have no end. Or you may be struggling through a difficult life transition, grieving a death or divorce or experiencing difficulty in your relationships, feeling overwhelmed and powerless to effect positive change. If you're feeling angry, fearful, melancholic or numb, the good news is that these feelings are completely normal. While it's true that everyone experiences adversity, there are times when seeking outside help can be very useful. With individual therapeutic counseling, you can learn how to manage negative thoughts, emotions, and experiences more effectively.

 

     As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I will serve as your confidant, supporter, and guide. You will be free to talk about your experiences without the fear of ridicule, shame, or disclosure. You will be able to explore new ways of thinking and being. I can help you focus on your strengths so that you no longer have to feel defeated by perceived weaknesses. My counseling service isn’t just talk therapy! You will be learning concrete tools, skills and strategies you can integrate into your daily life. These can give you a greater sense of acceptance and help you more effectively manage things like relationship conflict, anger, anxiety, and grief. No matter how scary or uncomfortable your current situation may be, the emotions you're experiencing can be temporary. Although overcoming your obstacles may seem impossible at first, you do have the power to triumph over your current situation.​

 

TEEN INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

 

• Is your teen acting irritable and withdrawn, perhaps spending hours alone in his or her bedroom?

• Does your teen have trouble getting along with peers and teachers, or trouble academically?

• Do you and  your teen have ongoing, unresolved arguments that make you feel frustrated, angry an disconnected from your child?

• Do you wish you could understand what your teen is experiencing so you can support hi or her in cultivating a healthy and successful life?

     

     Like most parents, you probably want the best for your children. However, when things start to go awry with teenagers, it's not uncommon to feel disheartened, stressed and even helpless. If your teen has been pushing you away, you are not alone. Countless parents have struggled with despair as they raised teenagers. While you may long to have your sweet child who came to you for everything back, it's important to keep in mind that increasing independence in adolescence is completely normal. While some conflict with your teen is normal as well, there are some red flags to watch out for. If your teen is self-isolating, acting angry or withdrawn or no longer wants to participate in activities he or she once enjoyed, there might be a more serious problem that needs to be addressed in family counseling sessions. Common issues that plague teens include anxiety, depression, bullying, substance abuse, self-harming behaviors, losses, sexuality, divorce, and trauma.

 

     Regardless of the source of their problems, almost all teens can benefit from some type of counseling services . By having a compassionate, nonjudgmental therapist to talk to, teens can open up about the things they find the most troubling. Counseling can help your teen to think through the real-world consequences and find healthy ways to establish independence and individuality. As your teen's counselor, I will offer tips and strategies for managing anxiety, building healthy relationships and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If your teen has recently suffered a major trauma, a divorce or death in the family, I will help your teen work through the painful emotions, thoughts, and memories and create a safe space for grieving.     

 

     As parents, you will have the opportunity to participate in parenting and family sessions. During these emotional counseling sessions, you can learn about the ins and outs of adolescent development, new parenting strategies, and boundary setting. The whole family will have the chance to learn conflict resolution strategies and increase mutual understanding and respect. Because each family is different, your teen's therapy plan will be based on your family's unique needs. With the help of teen counseling, your teen can develop the skills necessary for navigating adolescence and the world beyond.

​

 CHILD COUNSELING

 

     Child counseling can help with the following issues:  

• ADD/ADHD                                                              Behavioral Issues

• Anxiety                                                                      Depression

• Divorce Impact                                                         Grief

• Bullying                                                                     Chronic or Terminal Illness                                        

   

     Seeing your child struggle physically, emotionally, socially or academically can be an extremely upsetting and frustrating experience. And, it can sometimes be difficult to determine if what your child is experiencing is a phase that he or she will grow out of or if something more serious is occurring. You may be feeling helpless, powerless and defeated as a parent, wondering how your child will ever develop into a happy, healthy adult. Perhaps you desperately long to take away your child's pain, but fear you may not have the tools to do so. My therapeutic counseling gives you the tools necessary to address these issues.

 

     Child counseling can be a very effective way to help families who are struggling with a child's difficult behavior. Almost every family can benefit from counseling, regardless of whether their problems are "large" or "small." Sometimes simply getting an outside, unbiased perspective can be extremely beneficial. As your child's counselor, I will provide a compassionate professional, non-judgmental environment where your voice and your child's voice will always be heard and emotions honored and validated. You and your child will be free to share your worries, fears, and frustrations after a private counseling session. As parents, you will learn new parenting skills--such as age-appropriate communication and boundary setting. It's never too late to help your child. With the help of child counseling, it is possible to get back the child you used to know and experience a more peaceful environment where your child's emotions are acknowledged and understood.