Shawn Sinclair LCSW

Being a teen or young adult is a challenging time for everyone. Life can be overwhelming. Adolescents and young adults face a lot of different struggles.

Is your teen at a place in his or her life where they feel anxious, depressed, or alone? Is your teen feeling like no one understands them or what they are going through? Are you personally going through a life transition and feel stressed, confused, or perhaps can't seem to find your way?

Some issues that my clients deal with include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, social issues, social pressures, social media influences with increased anxiety, peer influence with sex and drugs, dating/friendship struggles, divorce, and family problems.

When someone is faced with overwhelming problems, emotional reactions and behaviors are a way to cope. Confidential counseling can be a place to find relief and support. It can also be a place for you and your therapist to work together to gain new insights and tools to handle the pressures and challenges in new and productive ways. There is Hope.

HOW DOES COUNSELING WORK?

Therapy begins by taking a look at your life, relationships, and general mood to evaluate areas that you may want to focus on . On your first appointment we will review the questionnaire about your history, which also may guide us in establishing therapy goals.

Therapy works on many levels. You may notice some relief by simply having a supportive place to explore your concerns, feelings, or needs. Therapy also may lead to behavioral changes, such as improved communication or self-care. Finally, old patterns can evolve into new and healthier life choices and greater fulfillment.

Counseling provides a safe environment to share all your thoughts and feelings. When you feel ready, you will do most of the talking, and the counselor will ask questions to help you express your thoughts and feelings. The goal is that, as you identify your feelings and explore why you may feel the way you do, you and the counselor will gain clarity on your particular situation. The counselor will also teach you specific techniques and/or assign specific activities to help you overcome your presenting issue. Each counseling session is focused on you and what your needs are, so it is important to tell the counselor if there is something specific you do or do not want to work on in that session.

HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL IT TAKE UNTIL I FEEL BETTER?

Many people find that counseling can be helpful even after the first session. This may be because of the relief that comes from deciding to seek help, or an opportunity to speak about problems for the first time with someone who is impartial and nonjudgmental. Relief may also come from a variety of sources, including making changes in your thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and choices. I utilize a variety of Cognitive-Behavioral approaches that are developmentally and therapeutically appropriate for my clients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is about taking action to decrease or eliminate symptoms that may be affecting one’s life. It teaches clients lifelong skills to improve their mental health and life.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FIRST SESSION?

The initial session is the time for you to start to share your story, to talk about your goals and what you would like to change. Another important aspect of the first session is deciding if we are a good fit. Do I seem like someone you can trust? We are establishing a relationship that will become the foundation for working together. You will begin to figure out some goals; I will begin to figure out how to help you get there.

The first session will also be a process of getting to know you and what you are hoping to get out of counseling. You may share as much as you feel comfortable, I will most likely ask you questions to help the process and gather information. Towards the end of the first session we can make a plan to address your goals. While taking the first step, and coming to counseling may make you feel uncomfortable, most clients report that they feel a great deal of relief by the end of the session.

HOW OFTEN WILL WE MEET?

In general, approximately six counseling sessions is recommended to begin with, but on many occasions more or less are appropriate. Clients are encouraged to take an active role in determining what is needed, depending on their goals and level of distress. The length of treatment also depends on the issue(s) presented.

The first 1-3 sessions will focus on evaluating your strengths, mental health needs, and goals and developing a treatment plan to meet your needs. Most people meet with their therapist once a week for at least 6 to 8 weeks. After that, you may meet with your therapist less often for a couple more months before mutually agreeing to come to a close in treatment.

WILL I HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATION?

Being seen for psychotherapy by a counselor does not necessarily mean you will need to take medications. Many psychological problems can be successfully treated without the use of medications. If you and your counselor decide that medications should be considered as an adjunct to counseling, your counselor will discuss referral options with you.  You will need to see a physician (such as a psychiatrist) to be prescribed any medications. It is important to let your counselor know about any medications you have already been prescribed. Please include this information on the intake forms as well.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT COUNSELOR IS RIGHT FOR ME?

The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with the therapist and feel heard and understood. The therapist should be able to summarize his or her understanding of the issues you want help with and have a preliminary plan of action. If for any reason such as scheduling conflicts or not being able to meet your specific needs, then your counselor can refer you to a counselor who is a better fit. 

WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE COUNSELING ISN'T HELPING?

It is very important that you discuss this with your counselor about what is or is not helpful. Much like our lives, counseling gives back what you put into it. Your work in counseling will be most effective when you and your counselor solve problems together, which means you will need to let your counselor know when something is troubling you, even if the trouble is something about your counselor. Although this can be difficult to bring up, experience has shown that such direct conversations can lead to special insights, improved working relationships, and opportunities for personal growth.

IS WHAT I SAY CONFIDENTIAL?

All client-therapist conversations are private and confidential.  It is also confidential information that a person is meeting with a counselor. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. Only in rare exceptions when the safety of a client or other is at risk can disclosure of confidential client-therapist information take place. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.

• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.

• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.

WE NEED HELP, BUT MY TEEN DOES NOT WANT TO COME TO THERAPY. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

It is recommended that you tell your teen that they are required to come to one session, but that after that session, they can determine whether or not they would like to return. This is often very helpful because by the end of the session, the teen typically feels heard and understood and many of the misconceptions the teen may have had about therapy subside. In most cases, the teen chooses to return to therapy. This is also very effective because it allows the teen to participate in therapy by choice and not because the parents are requiring it. The teen is then more committed to therapy and to the change process.

 AS PARENTS, WHAT WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT OUR TEEN DISCLOSES?

Parents are informed, as is required by law, if the teen is a danger to themself or others. It is important that the teen has a safe, private space to work on his goals. For therapy to be successful, the teen must be able to talk freely, without feeling like what is shared must be censored for fear of disclosure to parents. Therefore, we will not disclose information to the parents without the teen's consent unless we believe that the teen is a danger to himself or others. Some disclosure by the teen can be extremely helpful in facilitating a trusting relationship between the teen and the parents and we will work with the teen to encourage this type of disclosure. With the teen's consent, we will also give the parents periodic updates on the teen's therapeutic progress. We encourage the parents to call us with any questions or concerns throughout the course of therapy.