Our counselors provide therapy in Arlington, VA

My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is to build a relationship of trust and comfort with each client to effectively work on skill building that will serve clients in the long-run. I find that building trust allows clients to process their experiences and emotions openly, creating a strong foundation on which to learn solutions for problems.

I teach the following tools in individual therapy:

• Relaxation skills, including deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and various skills that focus on the nervous system in order to cope with anxiety and various concerns
• Psychoeducation, which includes teaching clients about their diagnoses, the biological impacts these may have, and strategies to improve general mental health, which can include exercise, healthy eating, and more
• Interpersonal resolutions, which involve processing conflicts and/or concerns in everyday relationships with family, friends, co-workers, peers, etc., as well as learning effective ways to communicate and regulate our own emotions
• Cognitive behavioral skills, which include learning about challenging thought patterns in order to improve feelings
• Emotion regulation strategies to cope with 'big' and 'powerful' emotions that can feel difficult to control
• Organizational strategies to apply at work, home, or school in order to be successful in the environments we live in
• Positive psychology skills such as gratitude, positive thinking, and generally fostering a positive mental well-being before concerns arise, instead of reacting in the moment
• Mindfulness strategies to improve focus, attention, and the ability to regulate emotions. Mindfulness is highly studied and has been proven to be a helpful tool for many mental health concerns

One of the most important things in therapy is the client's progress. I know a client is making meaningful progress in therapy when their mood is brighter and they are able to verbalize feelings of increased empowerment and improved symptoms. It can be hard to see progress, but part of what I do in sessions is help you 'zoom out' and highlight progress when I see it.

Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy by practicing the skills we discuss in sessions. The hour we spend together in therapy each week is a start, but in order to see lasting changes, I've found people have the best success when they spend time outside of sessions reflecting and practicing coping skills.

To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can feel free to connect with me via email regarding any concerns or questions you have. I generally ask about your therapeutic background, current concerns, and goals and desired outcomes for the therapy process. I can't wait to get to know you and assist you on your path to a better tomorrow!