Our counselors provide therapy in Philadelphia, PA

Brian: My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is to find out what's going well for them — where are they thriving, when and where are they absolutely crushing it? Then, I like to help them figure out what's going on there — where are they, who are they around, what else is happening — so we can look to bring some of those supports into areas where they are struggling.

MaryAlyce: My first priority is to establish an understanding of REBT (the form of CBT that I use). I also focus on stress management, problem-solving, and balance. I specialize in treating anxiety, anger, depression, grief, and trauma. I also lean toward working with women, teens, and children, and use art, play, games, and puzzle therapy formats. I use what will work best for the client's needs, so I am more eclectic in my approach in general.

Mark: I use multiple approaches to help people in individual therapy based on their presenting needs. Some of these approaches involve interventions from modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other behavioral therapies, narrative therapy, Gestalt therapy, and more. When working with children, I use additional interventions from modalities such as attachment-based therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and others.

Brian: I utilize the following tools in individual therapy:

• Strength-based therapy: I find out when and where the client is thriving, and bring those tools to bear in tackling issues of growth.
• Client-centered therapy: The client is the expert in her/their/his life — they’re in the driver’s seat!
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): An evidence-based, empirically validated therapeutic approach that emphasizes mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness (assertiveness training).
• Social justice: The client and I will work together to name and challenge systems of oppression that have traumatized or harmed them.

MaryAlyce: I teach the following tools in therapy: The ABCs of REBT, the expectation box, problem-solving steps, relaxation and meditation skill behaviors, stress management themes, and whatever is needed for specific problems (such as a grief workbook to help someone through grief, or art therapy projects to get at where someone's anxiety may be coming from).

Mark: I teach the following tools in individual therapy:

• Cognitive restructuring
• Thought stopping
• Mindfulness strategies
• Visualization
• And others

Brian: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they are able to demonstrate progress toward goals in treatment.

MaryAlyce: I know a client is making progress when they feel better; they are more rational in how they look at situations, other people, and themselves; and they self-report a reduction in whatever caused them to come to therapy.

Mark: I know when a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they are drawing toward completing objectives, when they report relief of symptoms, when they take greater emotional risks in session, and when they express feeling more comfortable with their sense of self.

Brian: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with reading, building up their community supports, listening to podcasts (ask me for recommendations, I'm happy to help!), and engaging in positive, rewarding self-care.

MaryAlyce: Clients can supplement their time in therapy by doing homework that I assign them, or by completing projects I encourage them to consider, as I try to have therapy impact their lives when they are not just in therapy sessions.

Mark: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with other wellness activities such as engaging in exercise, positive social communities, interests/passions, helping others, and self-care.

Brian: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can (and should!) check out the different types of therapy that are available. There are a lot of them — it would be beneficial for you to find one that speaks to you, and then find a provider whose approach aligns with your preferred mode.

MaryAlyce: I encourage all intakes to prepare for starting therapy by bringing note paper and a pencil/pen and to prepare to learn the ABCs of REBT and the connection of expectations with irrational beliefs. Also, have paper and markers or something ready for art therapy exercises that I use to supplement their learning experience in healthier ways of looking at things.

Mark: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can read and complete your consent for treatment, have your calendar/schedule prepared in order to schedule future sessions, review your insurance benefits to avoid any surprise patient costs, and relax (your therapist is trained to make you feel safe and will present from an orientation of non-judgment).