Individual Therapy
The idea of seeing a therapist can be overwhelming and intimidating for some. The staff at Summit Counseling wants to demystify therapy for their clients. Many people wonder what individual therapy is all about. There are many conflicting notions perpetuated about therapy. A common misconception, for example, is that a therapist will merely ask questions and make statements in an effort to “fix” the client. Another commonly held idea is that a therapist’s job is simply to sit, listen and analyze his or her client.
The reality of individual therapy is that it is a dynamic and unfolding process. The therapists at Summit Counseling and their clients collaborate to set therapeutic goals and formulate a plan to achieve those goals. It is our belief that each therapist-client relationship is unique in and of itself. The change that occurs in individual therapy is a result of this joint effort between therapist and client.
The therapists at Summit Counseling believe that trust is the foundation of successful treatment. It is important to know that whatever is shared in therapy is held in strict confidence between the client and therapist. The only exception to that confidentiality is when someone’s safety is in jeopardy. The concept of confidentiality is covered in detail during the client’s initial consultation.
Goals of Individual Therapy
Individual therapy can help with many different issues including, but not limited to:
• Depression and anxiety
• Powerful emotions that feel overwhelming
• Building self-esteem
• Trauma
• Addictions
• Parent-child conflict
• Eating and body issues
Individual therapy can work in many different ways. Each therapist brings his or her own unique perspectives and experiences along with a variety of different theoretical orientations. Read our therapist bios to learn more about the professionals at Summit Counseling.
To be seen and heard with kindness and compassion is a powerful and deeply healing process. Through ongoing open and honest discussion, both therapist and client reach a shared understanding of what is going on under the surface for the client. Out of this knowledge, opportunities for new experiences emerge and change, enabling growth and transformation.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is a form of counseling that allows people to explore opportunities for growth in their relationships. A common misconception is that couples therapy is only for those who are in crisis. Couples may benefit from therapy not only when in crisis, but for a variety of reasons including pre-marital counseling, dealing with transitions in health or employment, and to explore more effective communication.
We at Summit Counseling see couples therapy as a process that addresses a couple’s relationship and supports each member to explore and understand their similarities and differences, respectfully and compassionately. Understanding ourselves, and what gets evoked in us through our relationship, can sometimes be challenging. In couples therapy we explore in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment our patterns of relating, and beliefs about ourselves and each other in a relationship. Our therapists work to help couples increase connectedness, resolve conflict, take responsibility for themselves, deepen intimacy and work through stages of life challenges.
Do we have to be married?
The therapists at Summit Counseling welcome people at all stages of their relationship, all sexual orientations, gender identifications, and all relationship configurations, regardless of marital status. We are interested in helping people get greater satisfaction from their relationships at whatever point they are in their journey together.
Issues Addressed in Couples Therapy
Couples come to therapy for many reasons. Some, but by no means all, of the challenges that can be addressed at Summit Counseling are as follows:
• Emotional estrangement or enmeshment
• Feeling disconnected, or as though you are no longer on the same page
• Concerns about intimacy
• Affairs and other types of infidelity
• Issues dealing with sexuality
• Dissatisfaction with communication
• Excessive arguing or fighting
• Impact of trauma
• Patterns of over-criticism, resentment, or withholding
• Desire to strengthen commitment to each other and the relationship
• Desire for increased satisfaction
• Recovery from sexual abuse
• Recovery for one or both of the partners from an addiction
• Depression, anxiety, bipolar or other mental illness in one or both partners
• Parenting
• Adoption
• Parenting special needs children
• Rekindling passion and excitement
Will we also need individual therapy?
Sometimes it may be apparent that one or both partners are struggling with personal issues that would be best addressed through individual therapy. In these cases, the therapist may make a referral to individual therapy and discuss this with the couple. To answer specific questions about couples psychotherapy services at Summit Counseling, please send us a message or set up a consultation through our Appointments page.