Counseling can be whatever you need and whatever you feel comfortable with!
Some people choose therapy because they just want a safe place where they can talk confidentially. In those cases, we usually analyze the week’s events or past conflicts and traumas together, and I might suggest better communication or stress management techniques, or have the client come up with their own “how I wish I would’ve handled it.”
Other people seek therapy because they have experienced a recent trauma (accident, hospitalization, natural catastrophe, etc) and they just want to be desensitized to the pain and fear resulting from that trauma. EMDR therapy is often very applicable in those situations and sometimes allows people to reprocess traumatic events more quickly than standard talk therapy.
Other people have more complex, long-term traumas, sometimes due to sexual abuse, domestic abuse, or military involvement, and we sometimes start and stop EMDR treatment to do more basic talk therapy, psychoanalysis, or cognitive-behavioral techniques as deeper emotions come up.
Then, there are others who are dealing with serious mood or anxiety disorders who come to me weekly so we can monitor their ups-and-downs, the side-effects of their medications, and help them identify external triggers and identify the best ways cope with those triggers.
Many people come to my office because they are experiencing the emotional swings of a death, relationship breakup, an affair, or loss of child custody. During these difficult events, having a counselor can help ease the loneliness and isolation that tends to exacerbate these problems, while also giving you the opportunity to learn skills to cope with the problem. You don’t have to suffer alone.
And finally, some people come to counseling because they feel lost and without direction, or constantly at odds or out of rhythm with their family and friends, so we spend a lot of time clarifying their beliefs, values, and goals. In most cases, the clients do most of the talking, while I offer guidance, support, teach techniques, and point out moments when things don’t quite match up or possibly explain a certain behavior.
No matter whom you choose to go to for therapy, always remember: Your therapist has skills, but you know what’s best for you, and your therapist will rely on your feedback to adjust treatment as you progress. It’s a collaborative effort. Counselors have lots of tools and techniques, and are trained to tailor counseling to your needs, so always speak up if something isn’t working or doesn’t feel right.
Call Megan Medina at 432-278-1617 or email MeganMedina1217@gmail.com for more information or to book an appointment.