Individual Therapy
What is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy, also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy, is a form of therapy in which a person works one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional to address emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues.
During individual therapy sessions, the therapist helps the person to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to identify any patterns or beliefs that may be contributing to their difficulties. The therapist may use various techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), or psychodynamic therapy, to help the person gain insight into their problems and develop coping strategies.
Havenwood Academy offers each student a weekly individual session with their therapist in addition to a weekly family therapy session. Each student has the opportunity to participate in multiple group sessions a week including Experiential Therapy, Equine, Art, Music, and more.
How does Individual Therapy work?
Individual therapy works by providing a safe and confidential space for a person to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a trained mental health professional. The therapist helps the person to identify and understand their challenges, and to develop strategies to cope with and overcome them.
The process of individual therapy typically begins with an initial assessment, during which the therapist will ask the person about their symptoms, history, and goals for therapy. The therapist will then work with the person to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to their specific needs and concerns.
During therapy sessions, the therapist may use a variety of techniques and interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or mindfulness-based approaches, to help the person gain insight into their problems and develop new skills and behaviors. The therapist may also help the person to explore their relationships, past experiences, and belief systems, in order to identify any patterns or issues that may be contributing to their difficulties.
Therapy sessions typically occur on a regular basis, usually once a week or every other week, although the frequency and duration of sessions can vary depending on the person's needs and the therapist's recommendations. Students at Havenwood Academy are provided a safe space with their therapists to build a healthy relationship on a weekly basis.
What does an Individual Therapy session look like?
An individual therapy session can look different depending on the therapist's approach and the person's needs and goals for therapy. However, here are some common elements of what an individual therapy session might look like:
- Check-in: At the beginning of the session, the therapist may ask the person how they have been since their last session and if there have been any changes or updates. The therapist will also check-in on any homework assigned at the last session.
- Discussion of topics: The person and therapist may discuss a specific topic or issue that the person wants to address, such as a recent problem or a recurring pattern of behavior.
- Exploration: The therapist may ask open-ended questions to help the person explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in more depth. This could involve identifying triggers or patterns, exploring past experiences, or examining beliefs and values.
- Skill-building: Depending on the person's goals, the therapist may teach or reinforce skills and strategies to help the person manage their symptoms or cope with difficult situations. This could involve practicing relaxation techniques, learning communication skills, or challenging negative thoughts.
- Homework: The therapist may assign homework or tasks for the person to complete between sessions, such as journaling or practicing a new skill.
- Summary and next steps: At the end of the session, the therapist and person may review what was discussed and summarize any insights or progress made. The therapist may also suggest next steps for the person to take or goals to work on until the next session.
Throughout the session, the therapist will provide support, guidance, and empathy, while maintaining a safe and non-judgmental space for the person to explore their thoughts and feelings.
Who is Individual Therapy for?
Individual therapy can be helpful for anyone who is experiencing emotional, psychological, or behavioral difficulties, regardless of their age, gender, or background. Here are some examples of who individual therapy might be for:
- People with mental health conditions: These can include conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Therapy can help people manage symptoms, develop coping strategies, and improve their overall quality of life.
- People experiencing stress or life changes: These can be anything such as divorce, job loss, or the death of a loved one. Therapy can provide support and guidance during difficult times and help people navigate challenging situations.
- People with relationship issues: Issues like communication problems, trust issues, or conflicts with family members or romantic partners. Havenwood Academy focuses on providing opportunities for clients to build healthy relationships with staff and improving ones back home.
- People with a history of trauma: Trauma can include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or traumatic events such as a natural disaster or car accident. Most teens at Havenwood Academy have significant childhood trauma.
- People seeking personal growth: Anyone seeking self-improvement will find that therapy can help develop insight into their thoughts and behaviors, identify patterns, and make positive changes in their lives.
Resources:
If you are a parent of a troubled teenage daughter, it's important to know that you are not alone. Havenwood Academy is here to help. Our experienced team of therapists and counselors has helped many families navigate the challenges of parenting a troubled teenager.
If you're unsure whether your daughter is struggling with mental health issues or behavioral problems, our online assessment can help. This simple and confidential assessment will provide you with insight into your daughter's situation and help us determine whether our program is the right fit for your family.
Take the first step toward healing and contact Havenwood Academy today. Our team is available to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the assessment process. Together, we can help your daughter get back on track and create a brighter future for your family.
References
Baker-Ericzen, M. J., Jenkins, M. M., & Haine-Schlagel, R. (2013, August 1). Therapist, Parent, and Youth Perspectives of Treatment Barriers to Family-Focused Community Outpatient Mental Health Services. National Institute of Health. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3765037/pdf/nihms400000.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 19). Mental health of children and parents -a strong connection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/mental-health-children-and-parents.html
Eric Allred was born and raised in Rigby, Idaho. He grew up on a family farm where he learned the value of work. He graduated from Rigby High School and attended Rick’s College, now known as BYU-Idaho. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Utah State University, received a master’s degree in organizational behavior and human relations from the University of Phoenix and a second master’s degree in marital and family therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. Eric has been involved in Rotary and was president of a local Rotary Club. He enjoys being with his family and doing outdoor activities such as fly fishing.
Chase was very fortunate to start in this industry as a struggling 17 year old kid looking for a mentor and something to be passionate about. Wilderness therapy was Chase’s first stop in this industry and was truly a transcendental experience for him. Chase has an enormous love for this line of work and the power that it has in creating change in everyone involved. Chase’s biggest belief is the power a mentor, strong, healthy relationships, and accountability can have on anyone, especially youth. Taking a very relational approach to his work, Chase has always been very relatable to the students he works with. Being able to understand and relate to a vast variety of the same struggles as a lot of the students he works with has been able to help him continue to grow, learn, and teach. Chase believes that with great rapport and trust, he can use his experience to continue to coach and train new staff, and has the ability to find those staff with the passion for this industry, and help them grow. His love and passion can be felt the moment you talk with Chase about this industry and he passes that on to others he works with. In his spare time you will find Chase cheering for the Eagles, Yankees, and Mavericks, hanging out with his brother, learning more about Eastern Psychology, and continuing to grow and learn.