Individuals seek therapy for a variety of reasons such as self-exploration and personal growth or for help in dealing with problems at work, relationship issues, abuse, trauma, or unexpected changes in life.

At Peace of Mind, NEPA, we provide one on one counseling in a safe and supportive environment. The therapist and client will explore underlying causes of symptoms and identify thoughts and behaviors that are negatively impacting your life.  Together we will create goals to help you overcome obstacles causing distress and equip you with the skills to take back control of your life.    

I commend you for the courage in reaching out of help and for searching for a therapist that you feel comfortable with, as both are important factors to gaining peace and wellness.  

The client holds the power to change.  The therapist guides you in reaching your greatest potential. 

Life can be trying. You don't have to face difficult challenges alone.

Gain support in improving relationships or going through separation, or divorce. 

Sharing a life together is special and is something to be cherished a lifetime.  It takes love, work and dedication to maintain a healthy relationship. A mental health professional can help you to gain new insight, increase intimacy and secure stronger connections. 

Two people each with their own history of experiences that when combined can take on a personality of its own.  Counseling can provide you with skills to communicate effectively, a key factor in maintain a wholesome relationship.  

Whether you are looking to strengthen your relationship, find closure in parting ways, or get guidance in co-parenting, a mental health counselor can help you though difficult life transitions.

It matters not whether a group of people are living together or living apart…. Any group of 2 or more who are considered important by the individual(s) undergoing treatment is welcome to take part in family therapy.  This can include, but is not limited to parents, grandparents, stepparents, foster parents, god parents, in-laws, children, stepchildren, foster children, spouses, partners, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, blended family members, social supports, friends and colleagues.

Some of the common causes of family conflict are finances, parental disputes, in-laws, child discipline, sibling rivalry, power struggles, extended family, mood and behavioral issues, alcohol and drug use/abuse and negative family members.

Life changes can affect families in many ways, such as changes in family structure (i.e. accepting new members into an already established household, divorce and marriage), the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, job or schedule changes, mental and physical illnesses, working mothers and childcare. 

Learning to communicate properly is a key factor in maintaining healthy relationships. Many misunderstandings amongst family members stem from the inability to convey thoughts and feelings appropriately, thus leading to arguments based on assumptions of what a person was implying.  Communicating effectively helps family members convey their thoughts and feelings in a way that allows others to be more understanding and empathic to their needs.

When an individual within a household is experiencing upset, the entire family can be thrown into disarray. Working with a mental health professional can provide family members with the skills to resolve and prevent conflicts, assist with adjusting to life changes, and help members of your family communicate more effectively.  The goal of family therapy is to provide the individual(s) undergoing treatment with support and to strengthen connections amongst family members as to provide encouragement in working together as a team.

When I hear the term group dynamics, I think of “chemistry” that of which is defined as substances of which matter is composed; the investigation of their properties and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change; and the use of these processes to form new substances.  When a group with various personalities is mixed together the group takes on a unique personality of its own.  Group therapy is an amazing and powerful experience!

Group therapy can be helpful to people in dealing with the following issues.

General Anxiety/Social Anxiety Addictions

Low self-esteem                                 Negative thinking

Stress management                           Anger Management

Grief & Loss                                        Family Issues

Depression                                           Trauma/Abuse

Sharing the same or similar experiences with other members in Group therapy can help people…

• Gain a sense of relief in knowing “you are not alone”

• Become more understanding and less quick to judge by learning more about members in group

• Increase skills by learning strategies that helped others to manage or overcome adversity

• Learn to socialize with members who may also feel uneasy about meeting new people and talking in front of others

• Obtain various viewpoints and offer perspectives by engaging in feedback with group members

• Become more accepting of yourself by recognizing that others enjoy having you around

• Gain encouragement and confidence in knowing that others made it through difficult times and you can too

• Increase connections with members of group who have now become part of your story