Individual Counseling

I am trained in many counseling approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, and many others. Please let me know if you want more information regarding any approach, or are interested in using a particular approach.

I tend to use any of these techniques fluidly and flexibly in response to the counseling situation. One of my guiding principles in counseling is: “the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem,” and I hope you will consider adopting that view yourself.

Counseling can be used to achieve a particular goal (for example, “feel more comfortable at parties,” or “communicate better with my spouse”), or counseling can be more exploratory. I think either approach can be effective. Sometimes clients switch approaches one or more times.

Contact me to see how counseling may benefit you:
304-671-1356 •  [email protected]

FAQs

I’ve never been to counseling before. I have no idea what to expect.


I understand. I’ve counseled thousands of clients during my career, and I’m not sure what to expect either. That’s because counseling is a highly individualized experience, one that the client and the counselor create together. One person’s counseling experience will be very different than another’s.

However, there are some things you can expect from ME during the session.

  1. I will direct my undivided attention to you, except for very brief periods when I may be thinking about something you said.
  2. At all times, I will be courteous and respectful towards you.
  3. I will place great emphasis on understanding your thoughts and feelings accurately.

My husband/wife/child really needs some help but they don’t really believe they need counseling. Will you see him/her?

It sounds like they don’t consent to counseling, then. If they change their mind, they can contact me directly.

Oh, they don’t have a choice. I told him/her I will divorce/ground/kick them out of they house if they don’t go to counseling.
That doesn’t fit my definition of “consent.” I will be happy to refer you to somebody else though.