Anxiety & Depression

There are many different forms of anxiety and many different treatment approaches. If you suffer from anxiety your life may be limited in many ways, some of which you may be more aware of than others. You may have a history of anxiety beginning in childhood or adolescence, or it may be occurring now because of a specific situation in your life. You may suffer from panic attacks. Because of our many years of experience we are skilled in a variety of effective approaches to treating anxiety. Your therapist will very carefully evaluate your symptoms and customize your therapy so you can gain control of your feelings, calm down, have restful sleep, think more clearly and begin to enjoy life more.

Anxiety and depression are the most common reasons that people seek therapy. As with anxiety, depression can present itself in many different ways. For example, many people don’t know that anger and irritability can be symptoms of depression. Depression can be rooted in childhood or adolescence, can be low-level and can last for years, or can be caused by a specific situation in adult life. Many clients wonder if they need medication.

Living with depression is like carrying a burden. Your therapist, Lynn Di Sarro, MFT, or Dr. Ron Soderquist will take special care to understand your symptoms and discuss treatment options with you so you can be freed of the burden of depression.

Medication In Conjunction With Therapy

We view medication as an adjunct to therapy. The research on both anxiety and depression shows that therapy plus medication is often the most effective approach.

But we find that some clients don’t need medication when they receive effective therapy.

We welcome discussion of medication, and it is always appropriate to do that during your session. If you need a referral to a psychiatrist or another kind of M.D. for an evaluation  we’d be glad to help you with that.

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Substance Abuse Recovery

Individual therapy and/or marriage counseling are often essential additions to the foundation of working a 12-step program. You may decide to do this early on in your recovery or much later down the road. We are sensitive and educated in the particular kinds of problems caused by or aggravated by substance abuse and will help you move forward in your recovery.

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Parenting/Family Issues

Needing help with parenting doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent – it means you’re wise to recognize that families can be complicated and challenging. We know that each family has it’s own individual strengths and weaknesses. We will customize our work with you so you begin to feel more calm and confident as a parent, developing skills that are positive and helpful for you and your family members. We will discuss therapy options with you that may include separate therapy for the adults and children, or family therapy.

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Couples

Couples seek therapy for a wide variety of reasons. When working with couples, the therapist teaches and models communication skills that are essential for building and re-discovering ways of connecting. He/she listens carefully to the needs and feelings of the individuals, always bearing in mind the goal of strengthening the relationship. Whether gay or straight, seeking pre-marital counseling, living together or married for 40 years, you will find the therapists at Family Counseling Center of the Oaks skilled and experienced in couples therapy.

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