Individual Therapy

By now you have likely read through a few therapists' pages and are not quite sure how to pick a therapist. I get it, picking someone to sit down and talk with who is a complete stranger can be overwhelming. A big part of therapy with me is that I do my best to be down to earth and real. 

My training and utilization of systems theory positions me to work with you from a dynamic perspective. Systems theory takes on the perspective that you are a part of multiple systems; think your family, your job, the family you grew up in, your neighbors, the list goes on. Changes in you (or others) can have a ripple effect of change or disruption in your system(s). This can be good change, but sometimes it takes some work to adjust to the change. Personally, it just makes sense to me to take into account all of the different systems you are connected to as I work to help you be who you want to be. 

There is no way I can list all of the presenting concerns that clients have come to me with over the years. Here is a list of some of the common concerns I have helped people with: 

Veteran and Military Issues

Anxiety

Depression

Trauma (Religious, Childhood, Combat)

Suicidality

Grief and Loss

Gender

Sexuality

Life Transitions

The main therapies I use when working with individuals are Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. I have been trained in other therapies as well and will use those from time to time.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that helps individuals to accept difficult emotions and thoughts, and take actions that are consistent with their values and life goals. With ACT,  I work one-on-one with  clients to help them identify patterns of behavior and thoughts that may be keeping them stuck, and teach them skills to change those patterns.

The following are some of the things you can expect in doing ACT with me:

1. Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a central component of ACT. I help you learn to observe you thoughts and emotions without judgment or trying to control them. A main piece of mindfulness is also learning to stay focused on the present.
2. Defusion: Defusion involves learning to recognize and distance oneself from unhelpful thoughts and beliefs. I often use techniques such as metaphor, visualization, or repetition to help you defuse from your thoughts.
3. Acceptance: Acceptance is another important aspect of ACT. I will help you learn to accept your thoughts and emotions, even if they are uncomfortable or painful.
4. Values clarification: I will help you identify your values and what is important to you. This can help you make choices that are consistent with your values and lead to a more fulfilling life. I believe that there is a great deal of contentment found in living a values focused life.
5. Commitment: Finally,  I will help you  identify actions you can take that are consistent with your values and goals, and encourage you to commit to taking those actions.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of evidence-based therapy that I  often use to treat individuals who have experienced traumatic events, such as military combat, sexual assault, or other forms of violence. The goal of CPT is to help individuals understand and modify the negative thoughts and beliefs that are commonly associated with trauma, and to develop new, more adaptive ways of thinking and coping.

I will work with you to identify the negative thoughts and beliefs that are causing distress, and will help you challenge and modify those thoughts in a structured and systematic way.

The therapy is often divided into two phases. In the first phase, you and I will work together to identify and understand your negative thoughts and beliefs about the traumatic event. I will use a variety of techniques, including written exercises and cognitive restructuring, to help you challenge and modify those thoughts.

In the second phase, the focus shifts to developing new, more adaptive ways of thinking and coping. I will work with you to develop new strategies for dealing with triggers and stressful situations, and will help you practice these strategies in real-world situations.

Overall, I find that individual therapy with CPT can be an effective treatment for individuals who are struggling with the aftereffects of trauma. 

Individual sessions are 50 minutes and are $200 per session. The number of individual sessions varies greatly and is dependent on a number of factors.

For Texas clients I take Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Oxford, United Health Care, and Oscar Health. For clients in Colorado, I take Aetna, Cigna, Oxford, United Health Care, and Oscar Health. I use Headway for my insurance billing. If you plan on using your insurance for my services please visit my profile there to get started. https://headway.co/providers/tim-parker

If I do not take your insurance I can provide you with a superbill for consideration as an out of network provider. I cannot guarantee you will be reimbursed by your insurance company in these instances.