Different is beautiful. Be different. Be happy.
Therapy Sucks. It’s expensive, time-consuming, uncomfortable, and to some, it feels like a sign of self-indulgence or weakness. Who wants to show their ugly, scary part to a stranger? The reality is – if you are seeking out therapy, it means that you are strong enough and brave enough to be willing to admit that we could all use some help navigating through painful or confusing times. It is a basic human need to have other humans witness our pain and reflect back to us about our problems, joys and successes.
My name is Teresa Crossland and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor serving Boulder County, Colorado. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues and trauma in adults and teenagers. I use a combination of treatment philosophies with an emphasis on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy techniques. I have also been trained to use EMDR – a therapy approach to help heal the symptoms of trauma, anxiety, panic, disturbing memories, PTSD, and many other emotional problems.
What makes people change?
Almost everyone avoids change. Some people seem to be unable to change. Reevaluating ones life and making healthy adjustments can be scary and agonizing – so why does someone change?
You change when you are in enough pain.
If you are here now, you’ve gotten to the point where you are uncomfortable enough to start researching ways to get some help. You’ve acknowledged that the pain is greater than your ability to cope and you now have the daunting task of finding the right person to help you through it. Shopping around for a therapist is overwhelming – you could do all this research, face your fears and then pour out your heart to someone you eventually realize is an idiot who isn’t going to help at all. It can make you want to give up on the whole process.
Am I the right therapist for you?
I have no idea. 🙂 Finding the right person is the most important part of your journey right now. Research has consistently shown that it’s not the orientation or the techniques used that predict client success, it’s the relationship between the therapist and client. For therapy to work, you must feel understood and respected. So now your task is to interview a handful of therapists in hopes of finding the one you trust, who feels comfortable, and who seems like they can help. Even though it’s difficult, it’s worth it to find the right person. Wasting time with a bad therapist can be a horrible experience (sometimes even damaging) – and it can be hit or miss when choosing.
Although I would never promise that I am the right therapist for you, I encourage clients to come in for a free initial one hour session so that you can decide for yourself. In that hour we will talk about what brought you to therapy, what you hope to gain, and how I might be helpful. If nothing else, I can at least help you identify what you are looking for in a therapist so that you are better equipped on your journey. I have created a page about Choosing A Therapist which can be a helpful tool when trying to figure out who the right person is for you.
If you have any questions or I can help you in any way, please send me an email or give me a call – and please take a moment to read more about me, my treatment philosophy, and what I can offer you.