Mental Health Counselors

A mental health counselor helps people manage emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through evidence based talk therapy. I guide clients to reduce symptoms, build coping skills, and improve daily life. If you are comparing options, our overview of mental health treatment explains how care works in plain language, and if you are exploring higher support, this primer on what rehab is can help you understand the broader continuum of care. For concerns tied to substance use, our page on addiction treatment outlines levels of care and what to expect.

When you meet with me, we focus on what is most pressing and meaningful to you. My role is to assess what is happening, offer a clear treatment plan, and partner with you to reach realistic goals. If you want to preview common methods, browse our guide to the types of therapy we use.

I help with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship stress, and the mental health challenges that often accompany substance use. If you are curious about symptom profiles, our library of mental disorders explained is a helpful starting point. Sessions include skill building, supportive reflection, and specific strategies you can practice between visits.

I collaborate with medical providers if medication might help. I also coordinate care with your support system when you want that, making sure your therapy stays aligned with your broader health.

1. Warm intake

   • We talk about your concerns, history, strengths, and goals.

   • I explain confidentiality and answer questions about therapy. For quick answers before we meet, see our FAQ.

2. Collaborative plan

   • We identify target symptoms and set measurable goals.

   • I recommend a therapy approach and frequency of sessions.

3. Active treatment

   • We practice skills, process experiences, and track progress.

   • You get short exercises to try between sessions.

4. Evaluate and adapt

   • We review what is working and adjust the plan.

   • We address barriers like motivation, scheduling, or triggers.

5. Graduation or step up

   • If you are doing well, we taper to maintenance sessions.

   • If you need more support, we discuss options such as group therapy, psychiatry, or a higher level of care through our trusted partners. If you are comparing settings, this explains what rehab involves.

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Your first session is typically 50 to 60 minutes. You can expect:

• A calm, private space and a transparent process.

• Questions about your symptoms, routines, and stressors.

• Screening for safety and immediate needs.

• Education about how therapy helps and how long it might take, with examples drawn from our types of therapy.

• One or two initial tools to try right away.

You leave with a plan and clarity about next steps, not a list of generic tips.

What if I do not know what to say. That is normal. I guide the conversation with gentle questions. Silence can be useful too.

What if therapy brings up hard feelings. Strong feelings often signal we are touching meaningful areas. We move at your pace and practice grounding so you can leave sessions steady.

What if I am worried about cost. We review your benefits and discuss options such as sliding scale, group therapy, and community referrals when needed. You can also learn about coverage basics on our insurance and Medicaid resource.

What if I have relapsed or feel ashamed. Shame is common and never helpful. We focus on safety, learning, and the next right step rather than judgment.

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• Daily worry, sadness, or irritability that does not lift

• Trouble sleeping or waking with dread

• Panic symptoms or frequent stress headaches

• Avoiding people or activities you once enjoyed

• Using substances to numb emotions or sleep

• Conflict with family or partners that keeps repeating

• Difficulty concentrating at school or work

• Feeling stuck, hopeless, or emotionally flat

• Thoughts of not wanting to be here

If any of these feel familiar, you do not have to wait for a crisis. Early support prevents symptoms from becoming more complicated. If anxiety is your main concern, this overview of anxiety disorders can help you identify patterns.

At The Edge Treatment Center, I provide outpatient therapy tailored to real life. Many of my clients balance work or school with treatment. Some are navigating early recovery from substances, while others are focused on anxiety, depression, or trauma unrelated to addiction. We also coordinate with detox or residential programs through our partners when a higher level of care is the safest choice. If you want a broad map of options, see our page on addiction treatment.

I integrate several evidence based modalities:

• CBT to change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.

• DBT skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation.

• Motivational interviewing to strengthen readiness for change.

• Trauma informed care with grounding, pacing, and choice.

• Relapse prevention planning when substance use is part of the picture.

• Family involvement when it supports your goals and safety.

Our sessions are structured but flexible. You are the expert in your life. My job is to offer tools, a stable relationship, and a framework that moves you forward. For a deeper dive into methods, review our therapy approaches.

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Counseling focuses on mental health symptoms and patterns using validated clinical methods. We create a diagnosis when appropriate, which can help with insurance coverage. For a general explanation of psychotherapy, the NIMH psychotherapy guide is clear and trustworthy.

Coaching is goal oriented and future focused. It can be great for performance and habits, but it is not a substitute when symptoms like panic, trauma reactions, or severe depression are present.

Psychiatry addresses medication. Many clients do well with therapy alone. Others benefit from both. I coordinate closely with prescribers when you want an integrated approach.

Peer support and groups add community and accountability. Group therapy or peer meetings can be powerful complements to individual counseling. If you want a supportive community, explore our community programs.

Substance use often begins as a short term solution for overwhelming feelings or traumatic memories. Over time the solution becomes the problem. Counseling helps you:

• Understand why cravings show up and how to ride them out

• Replace numbing with coping skills that actually reduce distress

• Repair routines, sleep, and relationships that protect recovery

• Build meaning and purpose so recovery feels worth it long term

• Create a relapse prevention plan with early warning signs and actions

I also help families learn to set healthy limits while staying connected. Recovery is easier when the home environment is calmer and more predictable.

We’ll Lead You to New Heights

Would you like more information about mental health counselors? Reach out today.

CALL US: 844-620-3343

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Taylor, 23 Taylor felt paralyzed by panic attacks that started during college. Drinking helped at first, then made the panic worse. Together we practiced breathing, scheduled worry time, and graded exposure to feared situations. Taylor also joined a skills group. After 10 weeks, panic attacks dropped from several times a week to once or twice a month, and Taylor could attend classes without leaving early.

Miguel, 31 Miguel had been cycling in and out of short detox stays without follow up. We discussed triggers like loneliness and weekend boredom. Miguel started a routine that included morning sunlight, a gym class with a friend, and evening journaling. He learned a 4 step craving script and practiced calling a peer before urges peaked. Six months in, Miguel reported fewer cravings and a promotion at work. He still checks in monthly and knows what to do if stress spikes.

Ava, 28 Ava carried trauma from a past accident and struggled with sleep. In therapy we paced trauma processing, never forcing details before Ava felt safe. We added gentle body based grounding and sleep hygiene. Over time Ava’s nightmares faded and she started driving again on short routes with planned supports.

Names and specifics are changed to protect privacy, but the paths are real. Progress is possible.

1. Name and notice

   • Use a 2 minute timer twice per day.

   • Silently label your top feeling and where it shows up in your body.

   • This builds awareness so you can respond rather than react.

2. Square breathing

   • Inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4.

   • Repeat for 2 to 3 minutes.

   • Use before a hard conversation or when anxiety rises.

3. Opposite action

   • When sadness says isolate, send a text to one safe person.

   • When anxiety says avoid, take a tiny step toward the task.

4. Urge surfing

   • Notice the craving as a wave. Rate intensity from 1 to 10.

   • Breathe and watch it crest and fall for 5 to 10 minutes.

   • Pair with distraction or movement until it passes.

5. Three column thought record

   • Situation, thought, result.

   • Then add a balanced thought and a small action.

   • Aim for accuracy, not blind positivity.

If these are hard to start, that is okay. Bring them to therapy and we will adapt them to fit your life.

Frequency depends on severity, goals, and resources. A simple rule of thumb:

• Weekly when symptoms are frequent, safety is in question, or you are starting new skills.

• Biweekly when you are building consistency and symptoms are improving.

• Monthly for maintenance, relapse prevention, and periodic tune ups.

We revisit your plan every few weeks and make changes as needed.

Finding a good fit makes all the difference. Consider:

• Specialty and training

  • Look for experience with your specific concerns. For example, if anxiety is central, read our overview of anxiety disorders.

  • Ask how they approach treatment and measure progress. The APA’s summary of evidence based practice explains why method matters.

• Rapport

  • After two or three sessions, ask yourself if you feel understood and respectfully challenged.

• Logistics

  • Location, virtual options, scheduling, and cost matter for consistency.

• Cultural fit

  • You deserve a counselor who respects your identity and values.

At The Edge Treatment Center, we match you with a clinician whose skills align with your needs and we adjust quickly if the fit is not right.

You matter in this process. A few guiding principles:

• Replace lectures with curiosity. Ask open questions and listen.

• Set clear, consistent boundaries tied to safety and values.

• Separate the person from the behavior. Offer care while refusing to enable harm.

• Celebrate small wins. Change builds from small steps.

• Get your own support through counseling or a peer group. You do not have to carry this alone.

Sometimes counseling at a weekly pace is not the safest starting point. We may recommend:

• Medical detox for alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids when withdrawal risks are present.

• Residential treatment when you need a structured, 24 hour environment.

• Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization for more therapy hours per week with medical oversight.

We coordinate warm handoffs to trusted programs and continue with you after discharge so you have a steady bridge back to daily life. If you are weighing options, our explainer on what rehab looks like can help you compare settings.

Length varies. Some clients meet goals in 8 to 12 sessions. Others benefit from longer work, especially with trauma or co occurring conditions. We define milestones so you can see progress:

• Symptom frequency and intensity

• Use of coping skills between sessions

• Improvements in sleep, appetite, and energy

• Work or school attendance and performance

• Relationship satisfaction and healthy boundaries

If you are not seeing change within a reasonable window, we revise the plan. You deserve care that works.

If you are having thoughts of self harm or feel unsafe, reach out now to local emergency services or a crisis line. You can also use text and chat options if calling feels hard. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the SAMHSA help for people in crisis pages explain how to get immediate support. Save resources in your phone and share them with someone you trust.

In therapy we build a personalized safety plan that includes:

• Personal warning signs

• Places and people that help you feel safe

• Calming strategies you can do in under 10 minutes

• Steps for professional support and urgent care

A written plan reduces panic when emotions spike.

You can begin in three simple steps:

1. Reach out

   • Call or submit a confidential form. We will respond with appointment options. Start here on our contact page.

2. Complete a brief intake

   • Share your goals, history, and preferences. We verify benefits and review costs before you commit. If you want a quick screen while you wait, try our anxiety self assessment or our depression self assessment.

3. Attend your first session

   • You will leave with a plan, coping tools, and your next appointment scheduled.

If we are not the right fit for your needs or location, I will help you find a high quality referral. Your wellbeing comes first.

Do I need a diagnosis to start. No. If a diagnosis helps with insurance, we discuss it openly. Labels are tools, not identities.

Can I do virtual sessions. Yes. Many clients prefer secure telehealth for convenience. We also offer in person visits when available.

What if I am in recovery and slip. Tell me as soon as you can. We use it as data, strengthen your plan, and increase support without shame.

Will you talk to my family. Only with your permission. We can include loved ones for education and support when helpful.

How do I know therapy is working. You should notice shifts in daily functioning, symptoms, and relationships. We track progress so you can see the change. For a broader overview of treatment options, here is our page on mental health treatment.

I have watched people step out of panic, build lives beyond depression, and repair relationships they thought were lost. Not because therapy is magic, but because practical tools inside a caring relationship create momentum. Change is possible. Relief is possible. You deserve care that fits your life and respects your story.

If you are considering counseling, take the smallest next step now. Send the message or make the call. I am here to help you get started on our contact page.

We’re Here To Help You Find Your Way

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, there is hope. Our team can guide you on your journey to recovery. Call us today.

CALL US: 844-620-3343

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