Therapists in Wales Center, NY

Counseling is a valuable investment in you. People seek it out for different reasons. Whatever your situation, I’ll be pleased to meet you and sort out the best ways I can support you in achieving your goals. My focus as a counselor is person-centered, trauma- informed and strengths-based. Those are social work terms that mean I want to understand you and your unique story to help you use and build on strengths you might not even know you already have so you can have the life you want. The types of counseling I have special training in can be used to help in a variety of situations. Let’s get together to see what we can figure out.

As a counselor, I am committed to helping you. I strongly believe in a person-centered, trauma-informed approach. I have experience in working with Anxiety; Depression; Mood Disorders; Trauma; Co-Occurring Substance Related Disorders and many other diagnoses. I also have a strong passion for promoting Neurodiversity and have experience in working with Adults with ADHD; Autism Spectrum Disorders; and Adults who identify as Neurodivergent. Regardless of diagnosis, I believe in treating everyone with the respect they deserve and will work tirelessly to help you in your goal to live your best life.

A client that works with me may struggle with substance abuse, dual diagnosis (mental health and substance abuse), anxiety, depression, family issues, adjustment issues, ADHD, chronic pain and other concerns. Many times clients will struggle with panic, feelings of being overwhelmed in their current situations and need support, feel lack of motivation, are using substances that interrupt their goals/cause issues in relationships. Other concerns may include having a hard time managing daily life expectations, going through a break up, relationship issues. These clients are looking for a solution and skills to manage these concerns.

I work with individuals and couples of all ages and backgrounds. Experience as a therapist includes community mental health & work with children, teens & parents (primarily in school settings). My therapy focus is on wholeness regardless of the problem, but to provide a context, the work I do addresses residual post-trauma effects, ADD, grief and loss, chronic depression, social (and other forms of) anxiety, and self-integration needs following separation and/or divorce. A therapeutic fit with a good counselor is a huge relief; it helps us recover an inner resilience we either lost or never knew we possessed.

"Some prisons don't require bars to keep people locked inside. All it takes is their perception that they belong there. A soul who believes that he/she can't leave, doesn't." Sometimes it just takes someone to help support you through your process of breaking free, so you can grow as you are meant to. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has had 10+ years experience conducting Mental Health counseling to adults & children, & providing Domestic Violence advocacy, assisting survivors through the Family Court & Criminal Court process, safety planning, & being an emotional support through the healing process.

I specialize in Psychological & Neuropsychological testing for children & adults, and in treating adults for insomnia, anxiety, PTSD/trauma, chronic pain, and adjustment to major life events. I provide individual and couples therapy and am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT-I for Insomnia, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gottman Couples Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy. I base my interventions on individual needs, and I strive to be compassionate and understand each client's unique strengths & values. I value collaborating with clients in treatment and welcome feedback to improve the process.

I am a licensed clinical social worker and have been practicing for over 13 years. I specialize in the treatment of adults, couples, and families. I utilize a client-centered, strength-based perspective, which allows me to effectively build clinical rapport and engage with my clients from the initial session. I am able to quickly gain my clients’ trust, enabling them to take those first steps toward self-improvement very quickly. I have great empathy for all of my clients and offer them my knowledge and expertise in helping them to achieve the therapy goals we set together.

I have years of experience working with children, teens and adults in a variety of settings. I integrate several different approaches to each therapeutic connection to meet individual needs. I have experience with clients ranging from eating disorders, anxiety, depression, headaches, relationship conflicts, ADHD and more. I welcome talking about what I provide and develop plans to reduce symptoms.

Footprints was started by a therapist who realized that often times the services provided to low socio-economic communities is lacking quality care. We noticed these communities were confronted with long wait times, disrespectful admins, and subpar treatment. The one and only purpose was to exploit the community for profit without providing the level of care deserved. Feel Better Therapy began from the inspiration to provide quality mental health care to the poorest of communities and treating the clients of this community the same way a rich patient would be treated in a clinic treating affluent clients.

The goal of my practice is to improve the quality of life of my clients and assist them reach their full potential and personal goals. Specializing in family and couple therapy. I also specialize in depression and anxiety. The ideal client will be dedicated to their own treatment and have a strong desire to feel better. Together with my client we work as a team to achieve the therapeutic goals and make life worth living and enjoying. I have been working in a mental health for over a decade and it's my greatest passion in life.

I believe psychotherapy can be transformative. Over and over again, I have been deeply impressed by people's capacity for personal growth and change. And, I have been moved by the courage and strength people have shown by their entering therapy in the first place, and by the trust they have placed in me and in the work we do together. I strive to create an atmosphere of trust, respect, and compassion that allows people to become more self-aware, to find healing, and to living a more fulfilling life.

Are you a master at faking a smile and answering with the cliché, “I’m fine,” even though you are drowning in constant ANXIETY, overwhelm, SADNESS, or hopelessness? Maybe you CAN’T SLEEP, worrying about all the “what ifs.” Your body may be riddled with with muscle TENSION, and you wonder if that’s connected to your chronic pain/illness. You may AVOID relationships, yet deeply CRAVE connection. Perhaps you even feel like something is “wrong” with you at the very core…

I love working with high performing and Motivated clients/couples with trauma who use therapy as an avenue for healing. I'm a holistic therapist that has a balance between being client centered and personally guiding the individual towards self. I enjoy helping clients explore relationship patterns that are no longer serving them. Working with children and adolescents, I include the entire family. I have experience with kids and teens. This work requires commitment and motivation to change current patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior. I believe accountability is paramount to change I provide a safe space.

If you feel anxious, depressed, fearful, relationship or family problems? We offer a cutting edge integrative assessment to address possible sources of your mental health symptoms versus simply treating the symptoms. We look at your overall health including hormones, vitamin deficiency and environmental issues that may play a role. We develop a unique individualized evidence based treatment plan to manage or resolve your symptoms. I bring an integrative strength based perspective to my counseling. We teach mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Therapy is about learning how to live a good life - to be fully engaged in a life you love. But for most of us the life we want is always out of reach. Why? Stress, habits we can't overcome, chronic pain, communication issues, anxiety, depression,... all of these can interfere with our ability to live a good life. But therapy can help you overcome all these issues and more.

Do you find yourself feeling worried and overwhelmed? Stuck in the same thought patterns, facing the same fears and avoiding things? Has life got you down and feeling lost or unsure? I would love to work with you to overcome the challenges you are facing in your life right now. We can work through past hurts and you can become a new, healthier version of the person you wake up wanting to be each day.

Many of us have been led to believe that coping is the best we can do. But sometimes our symptoms are really just messages that we aren't quite getting. Skill development is always important but real freedom and wholeness often requires an even deeper process of healing and integration. My favorite clients are committed to getting to the root of things and growing through whatever roadblocks are keeping them from their best lives. Even people who are already on a growth path sometimes find themselves running into the same issues over and over again and decide it's time for a deeper look.

Is your relationship on the rocks? Do you need an empathetic ear to help you navigate a big transition? My name is Joann and I am a therapist in practicum completing my Master’s Degree at Touro University Worldwide. My approach is compassionate, understanding, and bespoke to each client. If you would like to work through life's challenges, create a better quality of life, or a stronger, more grounded sense of self; I am the therapist for you. I honor the aspects of you that make you unique and celebrate you! I offer a safe place for you to speak about your story and help you work towards creating change and growth in your life.