Theoretical Orientations

The-Helping-Counselor

Theoretical Orientations

What is Brainspotting (BSP)?

Brainspotting is a psychotherapy technique that uses eye positions to access and process traumatic memories, emotions, and bodily sensations. It is based on the premise that “where you look affects how you feel.” By finding the specific eye position or “brain spot” that connects with a psychological issue, the counselor can help the client release and heal from it. BSP can be used for various conditions, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, phobias, and chronic pain. It can also enhance performance and creativity in sports, arts, and other domains.

What is Solution Focused Therapy?

Solution-focused brief therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the client’s strengths and resources rather than their problems and deficits. It helps the client to identify and amplify their preferred outcomes and to build on their existing skills and abilities to achieve them. Solution-focused brief therapy is based on the assumption that the client is the expert in their own lives and that they can create positive change. When we work from solution-focused therapy, we focus on the here and now and what we need to do to reach our goals. Moreover, we work together to find solutions instead of exploring and reinforcing our problems. This approach is convenient and can help clients find their answers quickly. Suppose you have been in therapy before and are used to telling your story repeatedly and relieving these problematic experiences. In that case, this will feel very different and uncomfortable. This intervention aims not to focus on your problems; instead, we focus on your solutions to these problems.

What is Reality Therapy?

Reality Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping clients take responsibility for their actions and choices and create more satisfying relationships with others. It is based on the premise that people have basic needs for belonging, freedom, fun, power, and survival and that psychological problems arise when they need to be met healthily. Reality Therapy aims to empower clients to evaluate their behavior and make realistic plans to change it if necessary. When we work from reality therapy, we focus on the here and now and our choices. Often, we are in difficult situations, and we feel as if we have “no choice” Therefore, we feel trapped, depressed, anxious, angry, powerless, and helpless.

 

In reality, we have choices; the choices before us may not be great or the best choices we want to make, yet we have to choose from the lesser of two options. Therefore, we will evaluate how you see the goals you have achieved and those you have not, deciding if your goals are realistic, ready, and willing to change to accomplish this goal. This theory’s foundation is taking responsibility for the choices in front of us and choosing more practical actions to help us. Again, this is not an approach to exploring the past in detail. Instead, we want to understand where we are and what we must do to reach our goals.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people change their thoughts and behaviors that are causing them distress. When we work from a (CBT) approach, we explore what is going on right now, sometimes requiring us to understand the past better to be healthier in the future. Often, we struggle with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, trauma, relationship issues, and familial problems. We experience many problems because we have unhelpful ways of thinking or seeing a situation or learned maladaptive (bad) coping skills, behaviors, and patterns for these problems.  

 

Our goal in CBT is to change your unhelpful ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving to help you learn helpful coping skills for these complex problems. This theory allows you to take concrete steps to change what you are currently feeling, thinking, and doing that is not working and replace it with more valuable skills to reduce or solve problematic behaviors.

 

This intervention requires learning and reviewing the coping skills, tools, and steps for you to take to leave our session and practicing these tools outside of the counseling session as “homework.” You will likely not see any meaningful positive results if you do not practice using these new skills outside the session.

The Counseling Process

The counseling process is a collaborative effort between the counselor and the client. It involves the following stages: establishing a trusting relationship, exploring the client’s issues and goals, developing a treatment plan, implementing interventions, and evaluating progress. Ethical principles and professional standards guide the counseling process.

To proceed with scheduling an intake appointment, you will need to email Mr. Jackson at Cjackson@thehelpingcounselor.com. He will respond using Microsoft Outlook’s HIPAA-approved and encrypted email to ensure your confidentiality.  If you request to use unencrypted email, please understand that someone can intercept our emails and break your privacy.  When you send your email, please indicate what problems you would like to work on and/or goals you would like to achieve. Once The Helping Counselor receives your email, we will usually contact you within 24 business hours; however, rarely it may take up to 48 business hours based on client care.

The following documents are for informational purposes only. If we decide that this will be a good clinical match, then Mr. Jackson will securely send these to you using The Therapy Notes link.​

Consent for Telehealth Treatment

HIPAA Agreement

Authorization for Electronic Communication

Credit Card Authorization

Informed Consent Service Agreement

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Consent for Telehealth Treatment

HIPAA Agreement

Authorization for Electronic Communication

Credit Card Authorization

Informed Consent Service Agreement

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

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If You are In A Crisis, Get Help Immediately!

If you’re in pain, struggling, and needing immediate help then call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, call lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or chat through their Lifeline Chat services. Additional information can be found on their website www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

If you feel you cannot keep yourself safe, please go to your local hospital, urgent care or emergency room or call 911. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 and ask to speak to the mental health worker on call. I will make every attempt to inform you in advance of planned absences.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, promoting professional best practices, and building awareness https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Active duty & veterans– Veteran Crisis Line: Veterans Crisis Line

LGBT Community: LGBT Help Center

National Violence Support Line: National Domestic Violence Hotline