Anxiety

Do you worry excessively about things that are unlikely to happen, or feel tense and anxious all day long—sometimes with no real reason? Everyone gets anxious sometimes, but if your worries and fears are so constant that they interfere with your ability to function and relax, you may need to speak with a therapist to learn coping skills. Generalized anxiety disorder is mentally and physically exhausting. It drains your energy, interferes with sleep, and wears your body out. But no matter how overwhelming things seem now, you can break free from chronic worrying, learn to calm your anxious mind, and regain your sense of hope.

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Depression

If you think that you may have depression, it is important to seek treatment. A person with depression cannot simply “snap out of it”—it is a medical condition that affects your quality of life. Depression may sometimes be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in some adults because sadness is not always the main symptom. They may have other, less obvious symptoms of depression or they may not be willing to talk about their feelings. It is important to know the signs and seek help if you are concerned.

Depression has many symptoms, including physical ones. If you have been experiencing several of the following symptoms for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

• Appetite and/or unintended weight changes

• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts

• Restlessness, irritability

• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

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Other Mood disorders (i.e, Bipolar)

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. There are four basic types of bipolar disorder; all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes).

 

Treatment helps many people—even those with the most severe forms of bipolar disorder—gain better control of their mood swings and other bipolar symptoms. An effective treatment plan usually includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”). Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness. Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder are free of mood changes, but some people may have lingering symptoms. Long-term, continuous treatment helps to control these symptoms.

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Relationship conflict

All relationships go through periods of strain, and when these periods are prolonged or causing significant impact on other areas of life it is important to reach out for help. Therapy is a safe space to explore the lack of healthy communication that is causing strain on your relationships, whether it is a romantic partner, a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or any other relationship in your life. Therapy can help you figure out whether or not your communication is effective, and guide you on improving overall satisfaction in your relationships.

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Family conflict

Family problems can manifest in the healthiest of families, resulting in challenging, frustrating, and painful interactions among family members. From little irritations to buried resentments, from dramatic arguments to feelings of guilt, disappointment, and anger we did not even know we had, our families often bring up the most intense emotions we experience, for better or worse.

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Family therapy is designed to help families collaborate to address family problems. The course of treatment is often brief, and most family therapy models seek to address the communication (verbal and nonverbal) styles of the family, as well as any individual issues that may be interfering with the cohesiveness of the family system. Family problems do not have to be severe to warrant therapy. Working with a therapist, families can expect to learn to understand one another better, communicate more effectively, and work proactively to disrupt unhealthy patterns.

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Adult ADHD assessment and treatment

Many adults who suffer from untreated ADHD avoid diagnosis or treatment due to the negative stigma associated with ADHD. Many people dismiss ADHD as little more than laziness targeted as a marketing opportunity by pharmaceutical companies. However, many years of scientific research confirms adult ADHD does indeed exist, and that ADHD diminishes adults’ quality of life.

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Regardless of the stigma surrounding ADHD, knowing about your adult ADHD is preferable to struggling unawares. With an accurate diagnosis, many treatment options and coping strategies become available. ADHD is not a “one size fits all” disorder and many factors must be considered before a definitive diagnosis is made and an appropriate treatment is found.

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Treatment for ADHD can also mean seeking outside help. Professionals trained in ADHD can help you learn new skills to cope with symptoms and change habits that are causing problems.

Some therapies focus on managing stress and anger or controlling impulsive behaviors, while others teach you how to handle time and money better and improve your organizational skills.

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LGBTQ Affirming

As a person who identifies with one or more of the identities under the LGBTQ umbrella, you know that underneath the typical challenges of human experience you have additional challenges to navigate in a world that is often unwelcoming and unkind. The therapists at Julia's Counseling are here to help you as you navigate these challenges in a safe and affirming way. Whether you are just beginning to realize that you don't fit commonly accepted societal norms, or are well along in your journey of self discovery and self expression, we can offer compassionate, knowledgeable support. As an LGBTQ affirming counseling practice we work hard to create a space and a vibe that is welcoming and safe. In addition to the areas of service listed under Adult Counseling, we also offer services and support in these areas:
* Relationship counseling for same-sex, non-binary, trans, or multi partner relationships

* Parenting in an LGBTQ family

* Coming out support and advocacy
* Family of origin issues
* Transgender support and advocacy (based on WPATH standards)
* Trauma/PTSD related to your identity as an LGBTQ person.

* Spiritual/Religious trauma related to your identity as an LGBTQ person.

 

Infertility

Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples in the United States, and it's not just women. About 1/3 of infertility problems are attributed to women, 1/3 are attributed to men, and 1/3 is either both partners or simply unknown. Treating infertility may be as easy as taking a pill or undergoing a simple medical procedure, but up to 3% of people must undergo more invasive procedures, like in-vitro fertilization, to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Regardless of what treatments you may be prescribed, the likelihood is that you will also experience stress, anxiety, depression, mood swings, self-esteem issues, and other challenging emotions. Counseling can help you deal with the emotional impact of accepting your (or your partner's)  infertility and support you as you embark on the journey to parenthood through medical intervention. Click here to read more about our services. 

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Trauma/PTSD, Medical trauma​, Spiritual trauma, Childhood abuse, Sexual abuse

If you’ve experienced an extremely stressful or disturbing event that’s left you feeling helpless and emotionally out of control, you may have been traumatized. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won’t go away. It can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. When bad things happen, it can take a while to get over the pain and feel safe again. 

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Experiencing trauma in childhood can have a severe and long-lasting effect. When childhood trauma is not resolved, a sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for further trauma. Childhood trauma can result from anything that disrupts a child’s sense of safety, including:

• An unstable or unsafe environment

• Separation from a parent

• Serious illness

• Intrusive medical procedures

• Sexual, physical, or verbal abuse

• Domestic violence

• Neglect

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We all react in different ways to trauma, experiencing a wide range of physical and emotional reactions. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel, or respond, so don’t judge your own reactions or those of other people. Your responses are NORMAL reactions to ABNORMAL events.

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In order to heal from psychological and emotional trauma, you'll need to resolve the unpleasant feelings and memories you've long avoided, discharge pent-up "fight-or-flight" energy, learn to regulate strong emotions, and rebuild your ability to trust other people. Working through trauma can be scary, painful, and potentially re-traumatizing, so this healing work is best done with the help of an experienced trauma specialist.

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Intimacy issues

For individuals, intimacy issues can be scary to talk about, and therapy can help heal a sexually distressing past, facilitate sexual function, or explore psychological blocks preventing full expression of emotional and/or sexual intimacy in a relationship. For couples, talking about your intimacy issues can help heal infidelity, enhance sexual and emotional communication, or explore alternative sexual expressions.

 

Please remember, intimacy issues can effect Anyone! At the end of the day, being human means we are sexual beings. As sexual beings, we all carry complex sex histories. These sex histories include lifelong family and societal messages that affect our sexual functioning, body image, and relationships. Therapy addressing intimacy issues can help a person explore his/her past sex history and find solutions to enhance the present and future.

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Major life transitions (i.e, college, divorce, empty nest, retirement, etc.)

Change is a natural part of life. At some point in their lives everyone may experience illness, marriage, divorce, empty-nest syndrome, work problems, or another event that dramatically affects their normal routine or creates a new environment. Sufferers of Phase of Life Adjustment Anxiety experience a serious emotional jolt when they’re not able to adjust to these changes. The anxiety they feel serves as a trigger for stress that interferes with their daily lives. Therapy can help lessen or alleviate the ongoing symptoms of phase of life issues before they become disabling. 

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Family of origin issues

Addressing family of origin issues aims toward increasing awareness and helping you answer unresolved questions about how your childhood has impacted you today. On occasion, there is learned behavior from the past that plays out in external relationships. When we become aware of these behavioral patterns we'll benefit from understanding how they may have shaped our current perception. As you work with a counselor you'll identify your own behavior and how family origin may have shaped your current reactions and coping skills. By focusing on these issues you'll shed light on patterns that you were unaware of and learn how to heal from your past and improve your current relationships. Reflecting back on problems within your family can help create awareness to improve overall quality of life. 

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Highly Sensitive Person

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