Adolescent counseling techniques need to provide an introspective approach with evaluation of self not what others tell you or try to “make you”.   Positive affirmations can lead to rewarding results such as my S.O.A.R.I.N.G. inc. Program (www.soaringyouth.org).  I have extensive experience with working with our schools and doing groups in them including the Juvenile Probation and Diversion Programs.

                                                ISSUES:

* Anxiety and depression.

* Bored, lonely, and bullied.

* Oppositional/Argumentative

* Threatening, emotionally/physically violent toward others.

* Destroys property, lies, avoids responsibility, steals, shoplifts.

* Drinks or takes drugs, cutting, self-mutilation, promiscuous.

* School problems, truant, poor grades, disrespect for authority.

* Attention/hyperactive (I do not do medication).

* Cancer in the family.

* Military deployments of parents.

Family counseling helps to identify the ways that relationships and individual problems are caused and maintained by family dynamics.  But, once again, I accentuate identifying in counseling the ways the relationship and individual solutions are developed and maintained to “fix” those problems!

Family counseling needs “homework” such as family meetings and/or family events that illustrate “team work”.    I refer and facilitate family involvement with sporting events, nature experiences, flying ( soaringyouth.org ) and even skydiving adventures, to name a few.  In other words, counseling can be fun and productive.  Bet, you never heard that before!

                                           ISSUES:

* Divorce, single parenting, separate house-hold parenting.

* Blended families and step-parenting.

* Domestic violence/emotional abuse and drug/alcohol abuse.

* Cancer in the family.

* Military deployments of parents.

As report continues to build or as the child becomes more comfortable, he/she will begin to relate to more issue oriented questions and how they feel about them.  This is play therapy.  Examples of my use of play therapy can be simple role playing, games from a child’s home (board games, clay, school projects), musical instruments, poetry, or flying a real airplane (soaringyouth.org).  I also have extensive experience with working with our schools and doing groups in them.

                                       ISSUES: (Ages 5 up) 

* Depression/anxiety.

* Conduct issues and school performance issues (social/academic).

* Emotionally or physically violent towards others.

* Destroys property, lies, steals, and shoplifts.

* Attention/hyperactive (I do not do medication).

* Oppositional/argumentative.

* Bullied.

Trust seems to be the primary issue not communication, money, sex, parenting, or something else.  Of course, these other issues may need guidance but solutions come from relationships that trust each other to say what the other person needs to hear not wants to hear.  Trust is also essential between me (your counselor) and you!

Courage is another word for trust and I make sure couples I see understand they will be asked to demonstrate that courage by being vulnerable with “being themselves”.  Courage is also essential for me (your counselor) to admit I don’t have all the answers but “we” can learn the process of finding those answers for you and for the marriage.  Individual accountability produces marriages of hope not frustration!

Work is what I require not only in session but between our sessions to demonstrate the “walk the walk” part of learning.  The real measure of the effectiveness of counseling comes from outside my office walls and not “needing” to come to counseling, anymore.  Correct?  Work is also essential for me (your counselor) to meet your therapeutic needs by empowering you not me!

                                         ISSUES:

* How to resolve conflict.

* Affairs (emotional, sexual, financial, and others).

* Divorce or reconciliation?

* Sexual/intimacy needs.

* Parental roles and job loss/economic hardships.

* Domestic violence/emotional abuse and drug/alcohol abuse.

* Cancer in the family.

* Military deployments of spouses.