Individual counseling (sometimes called “psychotherapy” or “therapy”) is a process through which clients work one-on-one with a trained therapist—in a safe, caring, and confidential environment—to explore their feelings, beliefs, behaviors, work through challenging or influential memories, identify aspects of their lives that they would like to change, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, and work toward desired change.

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Each person is a unique individual...psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual’s needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit a hypothetical theory of human behavior.- M. H. Erickson

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People seek individual counseling in Marietta for a wide variety of reasons, from coping with major life challenges or childhood trauma to dealing with depression, relationships, or anxiety, to simply desiring personal growth and greater self-awareness. A client and therapist may work together for as few as five or six sessions or as long as several years, depending on the client’s unique needs and personal goals for therapy.

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Do I need individual counseling? 

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While it can be difficult to see a loved one struggling with mental health challenges, it's important to approach the topic of individual counseling in Woodstock with sensitivity and understanding. Simply telling someone that they need therapy can come across as stigmatizing or confrontational.

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A more supportive and better approach is to encourage your loved one to explore individual counseling in Woodstock options and offer to help them research potential individual therapists. Showing empathy and understanding can go a long way. Forcing someone into counseling may result in resistance and hinder their willingness to actively participate in the therapeutic process, which is essential for creating positive change.

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When mental health or emotional concerns start affecting daily life and functioning, individual counseling or therapy may be recommended. It can provide a safe space to explore and understand one's emotions, thoughts, and coping mechanisms. It can be particularly helpful in navigating challenges such as breakups, grief, parenting difficulties, impacts of COVID, or family struggles. Individual relationship counseling in Smyrna, for example, can assist in addressing relationship issues and developing healthier ways of relating to each other. It's important to note that relationship counseling is not recommended for abusive relationships, and crisis resources should be sought in such situations.

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How do I get started?

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Your first step is to call us at Advent Counseling to schedule your initial appointment. You will be asked to provide some initial information over the telephone to help us evaluate if our clinic is your best treatment option. You may then be scheduled for an initial one-and-a-half-hour evaluation session which provides an opportunity for you to build rapport with the therapist and provide him/her with some background about yourself and the reasons you are seeking individual relationship counseling in Smyrna. In addition, the intake therapist will be able to answer your questions regarding services, fees, confidentiality, and what to expect in therapy.

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We are interested in developing a collaborative relationship with you in which we try to decide together what kind of treatment would be best for you. However, not everyone will be referred for continuing therapy at the clinic. We make decisions on what we believe will be best for the client.

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At the end of that first session, if we decide that it is in your best interest to move forward working with the assigned therapist, you will decide on a mutually-agreeable time slot for your therapy sessions (typically, the client and therapist will meet once a week, and each individual counseling session in Woodstock will last approximately 45 minutes). At your second appointment, you will begin working with your therapist to set goals for your therapy experience and then begin working together toward achieving them. I use a variety of treatment options such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to accomplish these goals depending on the client and issues.

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I am pleased to offer Individual Christian counseling services in the areas of Marietta, Woodstock, and Smyrna. These locations allow me to serve Christians from diverse communities and ensure accessibility to my counseling services.

If you are seeking Individual Christian counseling services in Marietta, Woodstock, or Smyrna, I invite you to reach out to schedule an appointment. Together, we can explore your concerns, discover how your faith can positively impact your journey, and work towards healing, growth, and a more fulfilling life.