Change is coming…

I am really happy to be working with the clients that I am currently seeing, but I am also full. I get so many calls and emails from such interesting people who are seeking to create change and health in their life and I can’t see everyone. Right now, I am trying to figure out how to expand my practice, but in the mean time, I have been referring people to a handful of other, awesome local therapists. These are people who I know both personally and professionally and who I trust 100% to serve their clients well and create huge change. Really, each client needs to find the counselor that is the right fit for them personally, but these folks are really great. If you are not a good fit with one or any of them, okay, but if you are, lucky you. Check back in the coming weeks for a bio on each of them or just email me if you need their information sooner.

Do I need to see a psychiatrist?

Maybe. But maybe not. Often, your primary care doctor can prescribe psychotropic medication to help you with your anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. Sometimes though, if your diagnosis is a little harder to nail down, it can be helpful to do a more thorough evaluation than your doctor has time for. I can help with that. Actually, that is what I did for the doctors over at Community Health Partners before I left to start my private practice.

I will meet with you for 90-110 minutes to gather a complete history and get a feel for what is going on with you right now. I will then send my diagnostic impression over to your doctor so they can proceed with prescribing medication if that is what you are interested in and if it is appropriate for your diagnosis. I will also recommend counseling if I believe it would benefit your progress toward your goals. That might be with me, or depending on your needs, it might be with another counselor in the community – we will discuss my recommendation at your initial evaluation.

So if you think you want to try medication for your mood concerns, call me so we can schedule a time to meet and nail down your diagnosis so you can walk into your doctor’s office with the knowledge that you have a clear diagnosis for them to work with so they can start out on the right track in finding the right medication for you.

Working Relationship

This week I had a couple former clients find me on the internet and call me to ask about my services now that I am in private practice. As a counselor, I hope that I can help people get well and move on with their life. It is bitter sweet saying goodbye to a client that I have worked with and have seen change in. I am happy to see them go and sad that I won’t know what comes next for them. As it goes though, sometimes the work is not completed or sometimes something new comes up and the client needs the support of counseling again.

To those of you who are out there and doing well, know that I think of you and wonder how you are. To those who have sought me out again, I want you to know how thankful I am that I was able to have a connection with you in the first place that was productive and meaningful enough that you are calling me again when you need this support.

If you think you need this kind of support right now, give me a call. Maybe you’ve never engaged in counseling before or maybe you did at another time in another place. If you are ready to make change, figure out your stuff, and move forward in your life, give me a call. Let’s see if we are a good fit and if this working relationship can work for you.

My Clients

This post is a little late but is never a bad time to reflect on what I am grateful for. One of the things that keeps me energized about counseling is the people I get to work with and get to know on a very deep level. I am so honored that people entrust me to hold, listening to, process and ultimately help them move through their fears, anger, sadness, despair, and grief… and that I get to see their joys when change happens, when relationships improve and when they have the confidence to find a new way of being. That my clients, over time, allow me to explore with them feelings that they have shut out, memories that are painful to revisit, relationships that they know have more potential but can’t figure out how to get there, deeply humbles me. I am so honored that I get to see the amazing resilience and strength of my clients, even when they can’t see it themselves. That my clients choose to share their vulnerability in the safety of my office makes me really appreciate what we, as humans, are capable of. Thank you to each of you who has given me the opportunity to share in and nurture your growth over the years. You are courageous beyond words.

The Best Counselor in Bozeman?

“Fit” is one of the best indicators of whether counseling will work for you. What does that mean for YOU though? Well, in Bozeman, there are hundreds of counselors to choose from. You have a lot of choices… but not all of them will be right for you. First, find a counselor with experience in the area that you need help with. Ask around, call the Help Center’s 211 line (simply dial 211), talk to your doctor… and then call some of those people. Chat with them on the phone to see if you feel comfortable talking with them. Arrange to meet with one or two of them to see if you click in person. And then take a leap. Counseling is not easy and it certainly is not always fun. Counseling will bring up uncomfortable emotions, but if you have someone sitting across from you who you feel comfortable and safe with, you’ll be able to take what comes up and form it into the change you want.