Elizabeth Ann Grier

LPC

I was trained in the Rogerian method of Therapy. We were trained to be warm, understanding, empathic, display positive regard, display acceptance, “prize a person”, and to genuinely care for a person. I feel that I am and I think that others would say that I am a sensitive person which translates to empathy in the counseling setting. I feel that I have the capacity to genuinely feel for a person if that person is experiencing emotional pain or distress. In the session my goal from the first session is to determine where the client is hurting and let him/her know that he/she is cared for. I try to display care and empathy in my whole approach to the therapeutic method. People often come in as a last resort or feeling as if no one cares for them. I try to let them know that I am there for them and direct them to groups where people who are experiencing similar stressors can share information and resources with them.

I generally open my sessions by greeting the client(s) graciously and asking them what brought them to ask for help with their issues at this time. Once they describe to me why they sought help, I usually mentally file their issue into a general category such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, case management, or other. I try to be generally supportive from the start of the session to encourage the client that there is hope for their situation. I may give them a reference to a self-help group where they can turn during the week to get support and find others who are going through the same stressors. I ask a lot of questions about their situation so I can find out as much as I can about it. I try to be helpful and encouraging along the way. I try to ascertain exactly what made them pick up the phone at the time they did to ask for help. Then I try to relax their anxiety about what appears to be their core conflict with a quote from Dr. Abraham Low or a suggestion referring to a 12-Step Program, for exp. We then try to set some goals based on the client’s priorities so that the client and the Therapist both know the general direction the therapy will take and the action steps necessary to carry out those goals.

I have been getting a lot of relationship issue and marriage issue cases. I find that the couples are coming in with a lot of trust issues. There has been infidelity on one or both sides or suspected infidelity on one or both sides. The couple can come in with a will to resolve their issues or on the verge of dissolving their relationship. I generally like to see couples stay together unless the relationship is so deteriorated that both parties feel that it is not worth saving. I feel that if the couple is taught to heal from disagreements and forgive from indiscretions and start off with a clean slate, the relationship can be saved. It takes two willing partners to heal a relationship. The Therapist may have to work with each party separately to explore the conflicts they are bringing into the relationship. And then meet with both of them together to resolve the differences between them