Individual Therapy

Conflict is inevitable. Any time people with different perceptions, opinions, or life experiences interact, conflict is always gurgling beneath the surface. In fact, a relationship with frequent conflict may be healthier than one with no obvious conflict. Conflicts occur at all levels of interaction – at work, among friends, within families (children, siblings, parents, etc.) and between relationship partners. Conflict can cause resentment, hostility and possibly the ending of the relationship. If it is handled well, conflict can be productive – leading to deeper understanding, mutual respect and closeness. Whether a relationship is healthy or unhealthy depends not so much on the number of conflicts, but on how the conflicts are resolved. Therapy can assist with identifying effective communication tools to communicate needs and wants in a rational way. Additional strategies can teach ways to collaborate by evaluating alternative ways of interacting with each other. Effective communication skills result in increased trust, less defensiveness, and less blaming. In a supportive environment, clients and loved ones are more willing to self-reflect as to how they may be contributing to the conflict.

Some of the most common forms of abuse for women, men and children are as follows: Physical Abuse, slapping, pushing, kicking, punching, all of which can result in injuries or bruising. Sexual Abuse, any act without consent such as sexual assault/rape or sexual act (sodomy) as well as Pressured consent (consent as a result of someone pressuring you). Emotional or Psychological Abuse, Threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks. Signs and symptoms of abuse can be exhibited as follows: depression, anxiety, promiscuity or overt sexual behaviors, confusion, low self-esteem, changes in sleep pattern, irritation, cowering, fearfulness, extreme changes in behavior, rumination, disorientation, difficulty making decisions, withdrawal or isolation. Therapy can assist by helping clients identify triggers to emotional stressors as well as strategies to increase positive self-regard and self-esteem. Furthermore, through a psychoeducational approach, clients can learn techniques to eliminate generational abuse.

While Children, Adolescents, and Teens also struggle with mental, emotional, interpersonal and abuse issues; there are additional concerns that they may encounter as they try to gain their independence or self-efficacy. Some common struggles for this population are but not limited to bullying, adjusting to divorce, gender identity, school or academic problems, peer pressure, body image, human trafficking and teen pregnancy. Minors typically aren’t able to express their struggles easily as they may not understand why they feel the way they do. Therapy can help assist minors by learning how to identify accurately and adequately express their emotions, increase assertiveness and, replace ineffective defense mechanisms with effective coping strategies and appropriate problem-solving skills.