Alethea Gough

LCSW

I think success in therapy means that my client feels they have achieved goals and have methods to independently overcome challenges that they wanted support with for a time. Stating goals and looking at where a client started and how close they feel to their goals is one way to look at progress. I think some clients enter therapy having some difficulty thinking about their own strengths and resources, and finding success is partially learning how to focus on and utilize these strengths. I also believe in having straightforward conversations about progress, about when a client feels a method of therapy or particular idea does or does not work for them, and about achieving and setting new goals.

I enjoy collaborating with clients on their goals, and this is much of what we focus on initially. For some clients, talking about what is most difficult and thinking about positive change is a process that slowly leads to ideas for specific goals. Other clients may come with very specific goals in mind, and in that case, collaboration is more focused on what that end goal will look like, how it will feel, and how the client will know that the goal has been met. I think being able to envision life with goals met and challenges overcome is very powerful.

I respect that coming to therapy is a choice a client makes to do something good for themselves. For some people this may be easy and a common occurrence, and for others it's really a hurdle to try something new and share with someone they don't know. I have my LCSW, and social work strongly believes in the autonomy of the client. I believe people are the experts on themselves, and therapists are present to meet them where they are at and to help clients with what is most important to them. My personality is laid back and as a therapist I feel I'm open minded, accepting, and easy to talk to. My methods are based on what a client wishes to work on and they are client focused. I use solution focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, mindfulness, and am working to learn more about IFS and additional forms of trauma treatment and to gain additional certifications to expand treatment methods.