Individual Counseling
What is Individual Counseling?
Root Center for Advanced Recovery is committed to treating the whole person and fostering wellness in multiple spheres of our clients’ lives. Individual counseling is a treatment intervention that helps clients work through emotional difficulties related to mental health or co-occurring disorders. Counseling offers clients a safe and comfortable space to explore issues, process feelings, and learn the skills necessary to live a meaningful, balanced life.
Clients at Root Center participate in individual counseling weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on each person’s needs. Counseling sessions typically last 30-60 minutes, and family, friends, and other supportive parties are able to join as needed to promote open communication and help the client strengthen a natural support system.
What Types of Counseling are Available?
Root Center’s compassionate and experienced clinicians use a multitude of approaches to support clients in their journey. Each therapy plan is tailored to the individual client’s needs, interests, and goals, and the counselor works closely with the client to assess progress and adjust the treatment approach as needed.
Common treatment modalities for mental health and co-occurring disorders include:
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is designed to improve treatment engagement and outcomes by tapping into each person’s internal motivations and helping them move forward in their recovery. MET honors the power in every person and supports their right to live a self-determined life. MET clients are empowered to take the lead in their recovery and are supported in exploring their behaviors and experiences in a non-judgmental environment so that they can build self-awareness and identify changes they want in their lives. MET is especially beneficial for clients working through substance use and co-occurring disorders. It can be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities to create a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to care.
More information on MET can be found here.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) explores how our thought patterns relate to our feelings and reactions. CBT supports clients in understanding their automatic thoughts and helps clients learn new ways of thinking and responding to everyday situations. This empowers clients to respond to life, rather than react, and allows clients to thoughtfully align their lifestyle with their personal values, goals, and needs. CBT is an evidence-based approach to care and is particularly effective in treating individuals with anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.
More information on CBT can be found here.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized treatment modality that allows clients to process traumatic experiences from the past and feel more grounded and engaged in the present. EMDR builds upon the natural healing process of the brain, and uses specialized interventions to help a client reprocess and reduce emotional responsivity to difficult memories. EMDR is an evidence-based practice that is particularly effective in treating anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, eating disorders, and depression.
More information on EMDR can be found here.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) focuses on teaching emotional regulation, distress tolerance, adaptive communication skills, and mindfulness. DBT is a great tool for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts, mood disturbances, and substance use. DBT helps clients to identify patterns, cope with difficult circumstances, and change unhelpful behaviors so that they feel more in control and effective in their everyday lives. DBT is an evidence-based approach that enhances client’s skills and knowledge so that they are better equipped to manage everyday challenges.
More information on DBT can be found here.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a future-focused, goal-directed approach to care which hones in on helping clients identify and manage challenges. SFBT assists clients in moving beyond cyclical reminders of the past and focus on what is working in their lives currently. This allows clients to find traction and move forward in their healing process. SFBT encourages clients to focus on making the best choices in the present, and can help clients identify and shift negative cycles in a relatively short period of time. SFBT may be used in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities and can be particularly helpful in addressing interpersonal conflict, substance use disorders, and adjustment issues.
More information on SFT can be found here.
What to Expect
Every client starting services at Root Center will participate in a comprehensive clinical assessment with a master’s-level clinician. This initial assessment typically takes 60-90 minutes, and your clinician will gather information about your concerns, discuss your symptoms and family history, and make recommendations for what types of support might be best for you.
Each client works with their clinician to identify goals and develop a plan for treatment. Your counselor will help you explore your strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences (SNAP), and guide you in choosing a treatment regimen that is right for you.
Clients may additionally enroll in group therapy or intensive outpatient programming upon starting services at Root Center. These services can be done in conjunction with individual counseling, and your clinician will help you determine what services are suitable for you.
When appropriate, clients will be referred for a psychiatric evaluation with an experienced prescriber, so that they can explore whether medications might be beneficial in their journey. Clients enrolling in Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) will undergo a physical examination by a medical doctor to ensure health and safety when starting the new treatment regimen.
Goals of Individual Counseling
Individual therapy is designed to help support the health, recovery, and growth of each client. The primary goals of counseling are to:
- Build self-acceptance and self-awareness
- Reduce emotional distress
- Establish coping strategies to manage everyday challenges and stressors
- Build communication and interpersonal skills
- Foster a better understanding of how your past has impacted you and how you can move through past difficulties to shape a brighter future
- Reduce harmful behaviors related to mental health and co-occurring disorders
- Manage and reduce symptoms of mental health and co-occurring disorders
- Establish a plan for relapse prevention
- Build a natural social support system
- Improve balance and functioning in all areas of wellness
Payment Options
Root Center accepts all major health insurance plans, including Medicaid, Anthem, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna. Because insurance coverage varies by plan, please call today to find out if your specific plan covers our services. A self-pay rate is also available.
Appropriateness for individual counseling can be determined through a clinical assessment at your first appointment with a mental health professional at Root Center.
