Our counselors provide therapy in Midland, TX

Deidra: Look inward honestly. Accept direct and honest feedback because by looking at ourselves with an honest eye, we can then have full awareness and acceptance of who we are and learn and work toward WHO we can become.

Kaleasha: My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is meeting them where they are and coming along their side to work on steps forward toward their goals.

Deidra: I teach the following: self-reflection, tracking backward for triggers, interrupting negative thoughts, self-care, finding positives to replace negative thoughts, grounding, and relaxation.

Kaleasha: I teach the following tools in individual therapy: psychoeducation on trauma impacting the brain and body (for folks struggling with trauma), the impact of thoughts and beliefs on our emotions and behavioral responses, the dialectical process of seeing that two things can be opposite and both true (e.g. I am doing the best I can and I need to do better), sleep hygiene, and custom coping skills that are successfully used.

Deidra: I know a client has made meaningful progress when they tell me a time they had a negative thought or emotion and were able to use the tools we have discussed to regulate their emotions, look at all sides of the issue, and find a resolution.

Kaleasha: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they report back using the skills and begin to have a desire to help others who are struggling with the same situations the client used to.

Deidra: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy by taking some time after our sessions to reflect on what was discussed, jot down notes or reminders of assignments, and also practice the skills discussed — whether or not they work effectively each time, just keep practicing! The most important thing I want clients to do is “be gentle with themselves.”

Kaleasha: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with mindfulness activities, hobbies that bring them joy, creative tasks that utilize their artistic brain, and charity work that impacts others.

Deidra: To prepare for your first individual session, you can be prepared to talk more about what wasn’t discussed during your intake. It’s important for clients to know that our intake is NOT a therapy session but an opportunity for the therapist to gather history. The first session is when we dive into more things. Be prepared to be open, maybe jot down things you want to make sure the therapist knows about you. Just mainly be open and willing to look at things from a different perspective and know that you are in a safe space, free of judgment!

Kaleasha: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can prepare yourself for what you want to discuss. Some questions will be hard and it's okay to say you aren't ready to answer. Know your boundaries, take deep breaths, and be open and honest as much as you can as the therapist works on learning how to be an effective support for change for you.