Counseling
Life Counseling provides counseling to adults, children, adolescents, couples, families, and groups.
Below you’ll see what each type looks like.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a process through which a person works one-on-one with a trained therapist to explore their feelings, beliefs, or behaviors, work through difficult life challenges, traumatic experiences, and/or identify aspects of their lives that they would like to change.
A client and therapist may work together for as few as five or six sessions, or as long as several years, depending on the client’s unique needs and personal goals for therapy. Many concerns are readily resolved with short-term therapy. Other chronic or more complex concerns require a longer time to treat before improvement is realized. Research has shown that therapy results in fewer relapses of common conditions such as depression and anxiety, and that the positive effects of good therapy extend well beyond treatment. In fact, many clients report improved conditions long after therapy has ended.
The overall goal of therapy is help people heal, grow, and achieve productive, healthy lives. Therapists who provide therapy usually have a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social work or counseling ,and are typically licensed. Individual therapy sessions typically last between 45 and 60 minutes. The frequency and duration of therapy will depend largely on your needs, treatment goals, and progress.
If you are experiencing a difficult time in your life, know that we can help. We are a Trauma-Informed Agency and have several clinicians who specialize in the treatment of trauma. (top)
Couples Counseling
Being a part of a couple isn't always easy, and sometimes a neutral party can help in navigating hard but important conversations.
Couples therapy helps partners in a relationship recognize and resolve conflicts and improve their relationships. Through couples therapy, you can name and share concerns or frustrations, and make thoughtful decisions about rebuilding or growing your relationship.
Couples therapy can also help couples who plan to get married. Premarital counseling can help couples achieve a deeper understanding of each other and better appreciate the differences before formalizing a life-long commitment.
Often short-term, couples therapy may require only a few sessions to help you weather a crisis or explore differences in your individual styles and expectations. When relationships have fallen on harder times, sessions may span several weeks or months. Your unique treatment plan will depend on your situation.
At LIFE Counseling Center, couples therapy is provided by licensed therapists who have a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling. Making the decision to go to couple therapy can be tough. But If you have a troubled relationship, seeking help is more effective than ignoring your problems or hoping they get better on their own. (top)
Family Therapy
Like any group of people, families are most functional when there's consistent, open, and shared communication. A balance of give and take. A practice of active listening and of being heard. And a commitment to a shared vision of what being a family is all about.
Family therapy strives to help families build skills and understandings. Additionally, family sessions can be targeted to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen family relationships. Family therapy can help you improve troubled relationships with your spouse, children, or other family members. You may also address specific issues such as marital or financial problems, conflict between parents and children, or the impact of substance abuse or a mental illness on the entire family.
Family therapy is often short-term. It may include all family members or just those able and willing to participate. Your specific treatment plan will depend on your family's situation. Family therapy sessions can teach you skills to deepen family connections and get through stressful times, even after therapy is completed.
Therapists who provide family therapy usually have a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling, and are typically licensed. Family therapy doesn't automatically resolve family conflicts or make an unpleasant situation go away. But it can help you and your family members understand one another better, while providing you with skills to cope with challenging situations in a more effective way, strengthening bonds in the process, rather than eroding them. (top)
Group Therapy
Sometimes, there's no substitute for the feedback from people who've walked the path you're walking.
This is just one reason that group therapy facilitated by a counseling professional is such a valuable investment of time and energy. Knowing you're not alone, that others share your struggles, and hearing what others have done to address those challenges can be a profound source of wisdom, peace, and reassurance.
That's why we offer the following therapy groups. Each is facilitated by a (licensed/ certified?) LIFE counselor.
WOMEN'S GROUP: LIVING WITH A CHRONIC MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION
LIFE's Women's Group provides a safe environment for women to receive support, share experiences, and develop proven methods of coping with chronic mental health conditions. Topics of discussion range from coping with depression or anxiety, to reducing family stress, defining and enforcing personal boundaries, to processing and moving past hurts and hang-ups.
GIRLS EMPOWERMENT GROUP
Designed specifically for teenage girls (ages 14-18), this group serves young women who want to improve their communication and leadership skills. This group offers a safe place to learn and grow new skills. Topics of discussion will focus on empowerment, building character, defining values, and growing self-confidence.
BOYS EMPOWERMENT GROUP
Intended for pre-and-early teen age for boys (ages 11-14), this group provides a safe and thoughtful setting for young men who would like to improve their interpersonal relationships and communication skills and increase their self-awareness. Topics of discussion will range from communication and making friends to anger management and resolving conflicts to self-esteem and how to fit in without giving in to peer pressure.
For more information about any of these groups, call LIFE Counseling Center at 208) 465-LIFE (5433). Our office hours are 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, with Saturday and evening appointments available on request. We look forward to working with you and helping you reach your goals for a life that looks more like the one you envisioned. (top)
Play Therapy
When words can be difficult, play therapy offers a way for children to express their feelings.
Play is the highest form of research. – Albert Einstein
One of the most revealing windows into a child's mind is found in their imaginary play. It's also one of the most effective ways that a therapist can join a child in their world, and gain insights to their condition or frustrations. The power of play really can't be overstated.
Play therapy has been shown to:
encourage children to express their feelings, thoughts and experiences through play, aided by toys, puppets and/or other manipulatives while interacting with the therapist.
help to decrease behavioral and emotional difficulties that interfere with a child's normal functionin
improve communication between child and their parents
increase verbal expression
develop more adaptive methods of self-control
increase self-awareness
improve ability to trust and relate to others
increase impulse control
improve ability to deal with anxiety and frustration
A child may benefit from play therapy if he or she experiences:
temper tantrums
aggressive behavior
difficulty sleeping
nightmares
excessive worry or fears
non-medical problems with bladder or bowel control
Play therapy is also valuable for children who have experienced:
loss of a family member
medical illness
physical injury
neglect
sexual or physical abuse
any other traumatic experience
LIFE therapists who provide play therapy usually have a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling, and are typically licensed as well as have specialty training and experience in providing play therapy. If you feel your child is having a difficult time emotionally, we can help. We have therapists specialized in treating children. Investing in your child's emotional well-being is something no parent will regret. (top)