Our counselors provide therapy in Alexandria, VA

Krista: My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is to establish a strong therapeutic alliance/safe space. I find the best benefit overall in person-centered therapy because it is genuine, warm, and empathetic; incorporates unconditional positive regard; is respectful of the world views of others; is adaptable to a variety of situations; and over time helps an individual to move from their actual self to their ideal self.

Maclovia: My go-to approach in individual counseling is diverse. I use primarily EMDR (I am credentialed by EMDRIA), CBT, Gestalt therapy, and positive psychology because they are effective and not retraumatizing approaches that assist clients in resolving issues in the present, even if linked to the past.

Krista: Tools I utilize in individual therapy are many, and vary depending on the needs of the individual. Some examples are:

• Supportive reflection
• Cognitive challenging
• Cognitive reframing
• Exposure therapy
• Mental Status exam
• Risk assessment
• Substance use assessment
• Measurement-based care
• Mindfulness
• Relaxation and stress reduction techniques
• Visualization
• Breathwork
• Expressive arts
• Trauma-informed care
• Roleplays
• Communication skills
• Exploration of emotions
• Exploration of relationships
• Symptom management
• Thought journals
• Motivational interviewing
• Coping skills
• Feminist theory
• Solution-focused therapy
• Worksheets
• Sleep hygiene
• Roles of nutrition, hydration, and exercise in mental health

Maclovia: I teach diverse tools in individual therapy such as challenging and replacing distorted thoughts, reprocessing trauma, self-regulation, and finding internal and external resources to assist clients in improving their quality of living.

Krista: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when there is a significant improvement in symptoms, the client self-reports that they are feeling and behaving better, they are meeting their goals, they express a readiness to begin reducing session frequency, and they express consistent hope about their future.

Maclovia: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy because they tell me. During every session, with no exceptions, we have a little assessment to measure progress. We deal with setbacks or digressions right there and then.

Krista: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy by doing therapy homework which may include keeping a thought journal; jotting down topics they want to cover in their next session; reading recommended books; attending groups such as Compassionate Friends, AA, NAMI, or Alanon; and practicing skills learned in session.

Maclovia: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with medication management, community engagement, increasing quality time with family and friends, as well as finding meaningful experiences for their lives.

Krista: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you will need to sign the Thriveworks consent form, fill out the anxiety and depression questionnaires, have a valid debit or credit card on file, set up your client portal, call your insurance company to ensure coverage and ask co-pay questions, ensure that you will be physically located in the state your therapist is licensed to practice in at the time of the session, practice signing onto Zoom and ensure that you will have a satisfactory internet connection, ensure that you have a safe and private place for your session, and think about the problems that are bringing you to therapy and what goals you’d like to achieve.

Maclovia: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, I recommend you read my welcome email. It has good tips on what to expect during your first session.