You're not alone.
Offering hope and help in person in Marble Falls, and virtually throughout the state of Texas.
Hello, my name is Lesa Gonzalez, and I would like to applaud you for reaching out for support. I know that the process of finding a therapist is not always easy, so I hope that this page will be informative and helpful as you begin this process.
I believe we are all doing our best to meet our needs in relationships and in our lives in general, and that sometimes our strategies for meeting those needs can become unhealthy or unhelpful. At those times it can be helpful to work with a professional to sort through your goals and strategies to gain an understanding of what you might want to change. I do not come to therapy sessions with an agenda or goal for my clients; some clients come looking for answers about a particular issue, while others would like to build skills to help them manage stress, anxiety, or depression. If you feel stuck, and would like to make a change in your life, I would be happy to discuss how I might be able to support you.
The Process of Therapy
We have all seen therapy depicted in movies and on TV, oftentimes appearing quite scary! In my office you won’t be asked to lie on a couch or immediately tell me your deepest secrets. A large part of how successful therapy will be depends upon the trust the client feels with the therapist. The first few sessions are about building rapport, me learning about your goals and concerns, as well as you learning about my therapy style and personality. If you feel that there is not a good fit, or the sessions are not meeting your needs, please let me know. I value your time, and want you to feel that our work together is meaningful.
There may be things you choose to share with me that you haven’t spoken about in a long time. Sometimes bringing up past hurts and disappointments can make us feel upset, even if we think we have already resolved our feelings about the issue. We sometimes feel worse before we feel better, and it’s important to know that when you begin.
Therapy Approaches
I don’t have a “formula” for therapy that I use with every client, but I do have a foundation in a few psychological theories and approaches. In your sessions we will discuss various treatment approaches to determine what is best for you.
Adlerian Theory
The foundations of an Adlerian approach include belief that all people seek to be connected to and participants in a larger society. None of us is an island, and the ways in which we live our lives are in the context of our relationships. We often have mistaken beliefs about ourselves which cause us to behave in ways which are unhelpful to meeting our goals. Through an Adlerian lens, we work together to confront these beliefs and recognize patterns which may be holding you back.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT) is a form of therapy which can be useful in addressing anxiety and depression, as well as other issues. The main premise of CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected, and that sometimes our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves are rooted in outdated or false information. In CBT we work to uncover those thoughts, challenge whether they are rational or not, and reframe them in a way that is more helpful.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a brain-based therapy approach that helps us process unresolved trauma, which is often stored in our bodies. With this approach, the client identifies a particular issue they would like to resolve. The therapist then helps the client find a “brainspot” and works with the client to process physical sensations and emotions they encounter there. While the two approaches listed above are forms of “talk therapy”, brainspotting is a more “somatic” or body-based therapy, and not as much talking is used.
Contact me today:
809 12th St, Suite C-3F
Marble Falls, TX 78654
(512) 522-4756
hopespringcounseling@gmail.com