Counseling for Children, Families, Couples, and Individuals Children and Adolescents Couples and Families

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR... INDIVIDUALS People choose to enter individual therapy for many reasons. A crisis in a relationship or career setting can often be more manageable with therapy. An outside perspective can help people find new ways to tackle old problems. And certainly, childhood wounds can follow us into adulthood and be triggered by what happens to us there. Individual therapy at Cove Mountain Counseling is provided by caring, competent professionals, whose education, experience and expertise enable them to work with a variety of people facing diverse problems and concerns. Providers:. Linda Pucci, Ph.D. Wendy Pitts Reeves, L.C.S.W. Peggy Tollison, L.C.S.W. Karen Bartley, Ph.D. Amy L. Moore, L.C.S.W. Cindy Dixon, L.C.S.W.  Laurie Smith, LMFT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS Counseling and psychotherapy for children and adolescents is somewhat different than services for adults. Because developmental issues are so important, the therapist must determine how children and adolescents are progressing developmentally compared to others their age. The clinician needs to have an understanding of what is normal at each age and stage of development. Because children may have a more difficult time expressing themselves in words, the therapist often uses techniques of therapy that are different than those used with adults. Treatment of children and adolescents usually requires the active involvement of parents or other caregivers. Those responsible for the child or adolescent have valuable information that is helpful to the therapist when determining how to intervene. Preschool Preschool aged children are those under five (5) years of age. Usually children below the age of three (3) are not seen individually at all. In fact, with all preschool children, parental or caregiver involvement is absolutely essential. In many cases, the therapist helps parents become "co-therapists" for their children by coaching them in special behavior management or communication techniques. The therapist determines whether the problems presented are outside the range of what would be expected for the child's age and developmental level. Since preschool children have difficulty communicating verbally, alternative ways of allowing them to express themselves is important. Drawings, working with clay, and playing with games or toys are essential ways children act out issues that are of concern to them. Special techniques such as play therapy are used to assess and work with children this age. Some therapists see both preschool children and their parents in therapy; others work solely with parents. Since the approach taken depends on your particular situation, you should discuss this issue with your prospective therapist. Typical Problems: Aggressive or Violent Behavior Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD) Behavior Problems Child Abuse (Including physical and/or sexual abuse) Divorce Adjustment and Visitation Issues Eating Problems (such as refusal to eat or eating non-food items) Fears Grief and Loss Separation Anxiety Sexualized Behavior (such as public masturbation, sex play with other children,     inappropriate sexual behavior towards adults) Sleep Problems Providers: Linda Pucci, Ph.D. Amy Moore, L.C.S.W. Karen Bartley, Ph.D. Kindergarten through 5th Grade As children get older, they are more able to express themselves verbally, and therapy usually involves a combination of talking about problems and solutions, and play or other creative activities. Children this age still largely resolve their problems through play, and use of activities allows them to address those problems in a manageable way. Parents and caregivers are still actively involved in the child's therapy. As always, the therapist will determine if the problems seen are out of the norm for the child's developmental level. Typical Problems: Aggressive or Violent Behavior Anxiety and Fears Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD) Behavior Problems Coping with Physical Illness Depression Divorce Adjustment Eating Problems Elimination Problems (Such as bedwetting or soiling) Family Violence Grief or Loss Peer Relationship Problems Physical and/or Sexual Abuse School Problems Separation Anxiety Sexualized Behavior Sleep Problems Suicide Threats Providers: Linda Pucci, Ph.D. Amy Moore, L.C.S.W.  Karen Bartley, Ph.D. 6th through 8th Grade Children in 6th through 8th grade are in early adolescence, with all the turmoil and uncertainty puberty often brings. The therapist working with the young adolescent again determines how this child compares with others his or her age, in order to determine whether problems are within the range and along the lines expected developmentally. Issues that were not big problems in earlier years may now be significant, and the young adolescent's pain about them may be intense. Concerns with one child may radiate into the whole family, affecting relationships in the marriage or with siblings. Children of this age are more able to verbalize what is bothering them, although some choose not to talk about it. Negative attitudes may make them "prickly" to deal with and difficult to be around. Therapy with this age group continues to involve both child and parent, but who will be seen depends upon the issues and the needs of the child and parent. Children this age often worry that what they say in therapy will be revealed to parents. This is a delicate issue that needs to be addressed between the therapist, child and parents so the child can feel some level of privacy. Typical Problems: Aggressive or Violent Behavior Alcohol or Drug Abuse Anxiety and Fears Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD) Behavior Problems Coping with Illness Dating Violence Depression Divorce Adjustment Eating Problems Family Violence Grief or Loss Oppositional Attitude or Behavior Parent-Child Conflict Peer Relationship Problems Physical and/or Sexual Abuse School Problems (Performance or Behavior) Sexual Acting Out Sleep Problems Suicidal Thoughts and/or Attempts Providers: Linda Pucci, Ph.D. Wendy Pitts Reeves, L.C.S.W. Amy Moore, L.C.S.W. Karen Bartley, Ph.D. Cindy Dixon, L.C.S.W.  9th through 12th Grade Adolescents of high school age are preparing to become independent from their families. Although sometimes this is a progressive maturing, more often the parent-teen relationship is full of conflict. Certainly that relationship changes during this period. In therapy as well as at home, adolescents usually want and need more privacy. Parents still need to be involved in the therapy process, but much of the work (depending on the issues at hand) may take place in individual sessions with the adolescent. The therapist determines how the adolescent is progressing developmentally as part of planning appropriate interventions. Therapists often have an advantage because teens typically will listen to someone outside the family more readily than a parent or other family member. Therapy with adolescents tends to utilize more verbal communication. Expressive techniques, such as artwork, journaling or music, may also be used to help your teenager express their feelings and find solutions. Usually, therapists will guide the adolescent toward discovering his or her own solutions to problems or difficulties. They're encouraged to develop problem-solving skills that they can use in the future and outside of therapy. Typical Problems: Aggressive or Violent Behavior Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse Anxiety and Fears Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD) Behavior Problems College and Career Issues Coping with Illness Dating Violence Depression Divorce Adjustment Eating Problems Family Violence Grief or Loss Oppositional Attitude or Behavior Parent-Child Conflict Physical and/or Sexual Abuse Rape or Assault Survivor School Problems Sexual Acting Out Sleeping Problems Stress Management Suicidal Thoughts or Attempts Trauma Survivor (crime, car accidents, etc.) Providers: Linda Pucci, Ph.D. Wendy Pitts Reeves, L.C.S.W.                                                                                       Amy L. Moore, L.C.S.W.   Smith, LMFT Peggy Tollison, L.C.S.W. Karen Bartley, Ph.D. Cindy Dixon, L.C.S.W.  COUPLES AND FAMILIES Families These days we hear a lot about "the dysfunctional family". The truth is that most families are quite functional in some ways, dysfunctional in others. Families are powerful and unique systems with their own history, culture, and ways of responding to stress. Sometimes they work together like a well-oiled engine, all the parts moving together in unison. Most families, though, need periodic tune-ups -- especially during major life changes such as the birth or adoption of a new child, the beginning of adolescence, the marriage or divorce of a member. And yes, sometimes they seem to break down completely. The professionals at Cove Mountain Counseling can help. Typical Problems: Behavioral Problems Conflict Communication Discipline Divorce and Remarriage Drug and Alcohol Problems Finding Time Together Managing Major Transitions Raising Children School Problems Step-families Providers: Linda Pucci, Ph.D. Wendy Pitts Reeves, L.C.S.W. Laurie Smith, LMFT Amy Moore, L.C.S.W. Cindy Dixon, L.C.S.W.  Peggy Tollison, L.C.S.W. Karen Bartley, Ph.D. Couples Creating and sustaining a lasting, loving and intimate relationship is one of the hardest things most of us will ever do. In therapy, the two of you can learn to work together as a team. You can learn how to genuinely hear and understand the needs of your partner as well as how to get your own needs met. The professionals at Cove Mountain Counseling will help to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust and compassion. They will guide you as you move together towards obtaining the kind of relationship you both want. Typical Problems: Conflict Communication Problems Coping with Divorce Coping with Aging Parents Drug and Alcohol Problems Emotional Abuse Keeping Romance Alive Lack of Intimacy Managing the Household Managing Money Together Physical Abuse Parenting Issues Religious Differences Sexual Abuse Sexual Problems Providers: Wendy Pitts Reeves, L.C.S.W. Karen Bartley, Ph.D. Peggy Tollison, L.C.S.W. Laurie Smith, L.M.F.T. Cindy Dixon, L.C.S.W.