IDENTIFICATION OF TREATMENT GOALS SHOULD BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

Upon entering treatment, the main focus or goal is generally clear to the person seeking help. Although the focus of therapy should center around that goal, it is important for an individual to develop sub-goals and gain an understanding of how those sub-goals are the building blocks to achieving the main goal. This will increase motivation to take the necessary steps as well as take a challenging task on in manageable parts.

Furthermore, collaborative treatment planning is important in noting both short and long-term goals. Oftentimes, after working on a problem for a length of time, the focus of the individual becomes on how to solve the immediate problem, which is also the immediate goal of the therapist. However, a therapist cannot only help alleviate the immediate concern of the client, but also reduce the potential of similar concerns arising in the future by identifying long-term treatment goals as well.

Finally, collaboration often needs to extend beyond the therapeutic relationship in order to be most effective. This involves the coordination of care of other pertinent professionals, such as prescribing physicians. By coordinating all the efforts an individual is making in their change, long-term success will be better ensured.

GROWTH, CHANGE, AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT CAN BE DIFFICULT AND UNCOMFORTABLE.

Successfully navigating these “growing pains” requires a therapeutic relationship built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect. Such a foundation enables the necessary supportive challenge to occur within treatment. This means that while one feels safe at all times, they are challenged to consider new perspectives and attempt new behaviors with the support of the therapist. This balance of challenge and support is imperative in treatment being effective due to the difficulty of making changes.

INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS; THEREFORE, THERAPY MUST BE FLEXIBLE.

While the foundation of a strong therapeutic relationships is important for all, individuals have different needs; therefore, therapy must be flexible as well. Within clients themselves, needs shift throughout the therapeutic process. At times, the need is for a sounding board—someone to listen and provide a new perspective and at other times the need is for more direct ideas/skills of how to make a change. Flexibility also encompasses the approach to a problem be it a focus on emotions, thoughts, or behaviors. Flexibility means customizing, taking what changes begin in the therapy room and applying them to real-world settings in a manner appropriate to individual concerns.

I began my training in 2003 at Idaho State University in the Clinical Psychology program. This program was a generalist program focused on a wide variety of diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, marital/family discord, personality disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, etc. Throughout my training, I also worked in a variety of both inpatient and outpatient settings such as community mental health centers, university counseling centers, behavioral health units, residential and outpatient substance abuse facilities, and mental health hospitals. The capstone of my clinical training prior to graduation was an internship at the Central Texas VA, where I had the opportunity to utilize my training with veterans.

In September, 2009, I moved to Utah and began working in the private practice, Corner Canyon Counseling. Since 2009, I have continued to gain knowledge, training and experience in the field. I have focused educational elements on working with trauma, anxiety, and eating disorders. I also had the privilege of being the Training Director of Corner Canyon Counseling beginning in 2012 and having supervised other clinicians from 2010 on as well. These experiences helped to keep me apprised of some of the best up-and-coming information, clinical conceptualizations, and new treatment techniques to add to the clinical expertise and training that I was gaining in my own practice as well.