Individual Therapy & Counseling
Individual therapy is a journey into one’s own psyche for the purpose of self discovery and personal enlightenment. A variety of negative factors, both physical and mental, can hinder one from achieving their true potential. Personal, one on one counseling can begin the process of self healing and discovery. We will provide a protected environment where we will examine the nature of your feelings and behaviors and identify underlying thoughts that influence your actions. Together, we will create a strategy to facilitate beneficial lifestyle change and work towards bringing about healthy and positive personal improvements.
Some common reasons to seek therapy:
- Mental Disorders
- Distress
- Support/Coping
- Communication
- Self-Exploration
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders come in many forms and are among the most commonly occurring mental illnesses. It’s completely normal to occasionally experience anxiety, especially while in temporarily stressful situations or before and during an important event. For anxiety to become a disorder, the worry or fear lasts much longer and begins to interfere with the sufferer’s daily life. Anxiety disorders have a variety of symptoms between them, but they all focus around excessive, irrational fear and dread.
We offer counseling for most types of anxiety disorders, so if you feel that you may have one, don’t hesitate to contact us.
General Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
- Feelings of panic, fear and unease
- Problems sleeping
- Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Inability to be still or calm
- Dry mouth
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Dizziness
Types of Anxiety Disorders
- Panic Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Phobias
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD
- Mood Disorders
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and addiction don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand. While addiction is defined by physical or mental dependence on something, substance abuse relates simply to a person’s use of mind altering substances such as alcohol or drugs negatively affecting aspects of their life. Such negative effects of substance abuse may involve physiological, psychological, social, or occupational impairment.
Treatment for substance abuse problems can very often be achieved through counseling. It’s been shown by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and others that a client-centered approach provides the best chances of success. Of course at Blue Wave, We only offer substance abuse therapy that is respectful and empowering to my clients. If you are suffering from substance abuse problems, we can help.
We offer the following treatment services for substance abuse and conditions pertaining to substance abuse:
Substance Abuse
- Alcohol Abuse Counseling
- Drug Abuse Counseling
- Chronic Relapse Counseling
Related to Substance Abuse
- Codependency Counseling
- Self-Advocacy Counseling
- Grief Counseling
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders, or affective disorders, are diagnoses in which a disturbance in a person’s mood is considered to be the main issue. There are three major categories of mood disorders: elevated mood such as mania or hypomania, depressed mood such as major depressive disorder, and mood disorders which cycle between the two such as bipolar disorder.
It’s normal for people’s moods to change from time to time, but mood disorders occur when feelings of sadness, apathy, anxiety, anger, etc. last for extended periods of time, or interfere with a person’s life.
At Blue Wave, We offer individual therapy for all common mood disorders, including but not limited to:
Depressive Disorders
- Major depressive disorder
- Atypical depression
- Melancholic depression
- Postpartum depression
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Dysthymia
- Depressive personality disorder
- Recurrent brief depression
- Minor depressive disorder
Bipolar Disorders
- Bipolar I
- Bipolar II
- Cyclothymia
- Unspecified bipolar disorders
- PTSD
- Trauma
Behavioral Issues
Behavioral issues, or disruptive behavioral disorders, mostly occur in children and teens but can be apparent in adults as well. Many behavioral issues can be very damaging over time if left untreated, and can negatively affect the ability to maintain relationships and achieve success in school or work in the future.
Common Behavioral Issues
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Emotional Behavioral Disorder
- Self-Harming
- Suicidal Ideation
Symptoms of Behavioral Issues
- Easily getting annoyed or nervous
- Often appearing angry
- Putting blame on others
- Refusing to follow rules or questioning authority
- Arguing and throwing temper tantrums
- Having difficulty in handling frustration
- Academic underachievement
PTSD/Trauma
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder whose symptoms appear after a person experiences a violently traumatic event. Typically someone with PTSD will typically try to avoid all thoughts, recollections, and anything else related to the event. Despite this, sufferers will commonly relive the event through uncontrollable recurrent recollections, flashbacks, and nightmares. These symptoms are considered acute if they last less than three months, but chronic when they persist for three or more months. Symptoms can have a delayed onset up to years after the traumatic event in some victims. PTSD is separate from other anxiety disorders, such as acute stress disorder, and can cause impairment in many important life functions.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is used at Blue Wave. EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories, and other adverse life experiences, to bring these to a livable resolution. After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and triggers are reduced.