In sand tray therapy, a person of any age can work on an unconscious, intuitive level to explore issues. Through selecting and positioning iconic figures in a blue tray (symbolizing sky and/or water) filled with sand, clients of all ages bring their hidden inner worlds to life and explore their issues on an elemental, intuitive, pre-verbal, and non-verbal level. My job as therapist is to witness and honor my client’s story as it emerges, allowing a safe space for this exploration and healing. Sand tray therapy is a crucial part of the play therapy model at Aurora Counseling, but it is certainly NOT limited to children.

Your young child’s natural form of communication is not words. It is play. Through play, your child makes sense of his world. Through play, I (the therapist) can help your child heal from emotional and psychological trauma, improve his social skills, build healthy self-esteem, recognize and express feelings in appropriate ways (including anger), and increase coping strategies. Play therapy can be directive (the therapist chooses the intervention) or non-directive (the child chooses the play from a variety of available activities, which the therapist then uses as the vehicle for an intervention). At Aurora Counseling, I may use either method, depending on the needs of your child. Cognitive-behavioral prop-based interventions will be used in directive play therapy. These prop-based interventions:

• Enable your child to work on both a conscious and unconscious metaphorical level;
• Externalize the problem so he is not fighting himself;
• Allow him to utilize his own learning style;
• Are creative and fun so he is actively engaged instead of resistant;
• Encourage quick and positive results in targeted behaviors.

Older children are struggling to discover who they are. Their distinct personalities are emerging, which is exciting. However, some of their choices about how to explore and express their personalities can be problematic. When working with your older child I will honor their individuality as I design and implement therapeutic interventions. The treatment plan will be unique, honoring their personality, interests, situation and needs. Experiential interventions, including lots of self-exploration through creative games, art, journaling, and/or music, are excellent methods I use with this age group.

In order to successfully treat your teenager, I need to establish trust, relevance and healthy boundaries . . . both with them and with you. One of the most important aspects of treating teens is keeping the lines of communication open and honest while, at the same time, trying to respect your teen’s need for privacy. What types of interventions work? Experiential interventions and narrative therapy usually work well, since they are very personal and empowering.

What are you experiencing? How is it affecting your life? What are you willing to do about it? Do you believe your situation can change? Are you willing to try to change it? As your therapist, I promise to treat you with respect and dignity, and to join you in exploring and resolving your issues using modalities that empower you. Therapy is always a partnership. I can’t “fix” you, but I can help you “fix” yourself. Are you ready to get started?

Are you tired of sitting all day? You're at the office, in your car...another hour in an office just doesn't sound helpful.

Instead of just sitting and talking about change, let's move forward - literally!

Many clients find it easier to talk and reflect on their life while walking, or it's simply more enjoyable than sitting in the office.

Walk & Talk sessions are just like office sessions, except that we are outside enjoying the outdoors and the benefits of physical movement. There is tons of research extolling the benefits of physical movement, not just for your physical health but also for your brain and mental health. Different parts of the brain are accessed while walking, so it can help clients who have felt stuck with traditional therapy find new ways to think about their lives. You can read more about the benefits of walk and talk therapy here.

FAQ:

Q: Where do walk and talk therapy sessions happen?
A: Our office is located very close to Childers Park or we can walk in our neighborhood on the sidewalk.

Q: What about bad weather?
A: We will discuss a back-up plan before scheduling our first session. The back-up plan can include using the office or having an online or phone session. Please note, not all insurance companies cover tele-mental health.

Q: Is this a cardio workout?
A: No! This is a leisurely walk and you can set the pace. We are NOT physical trainers and this is NOT an exercise plan. While we walk we stay focused on talking, but also reap the benefits of leisurely physical movement and being outside!

Q: Anything else I should know?
A: These sessions are the same as typical office sessions as far as length, scheduling, and cost The biggest difference is confidentiality. Since we are walking in public, we are unable to control what others can hear or who we see. Generally, this is not a problem, as it is not obvious that we are your therapist. If this is a concern for you, we can discuss how to handle possible scenarios. If you ever feel uncomfortable with walking for any reason, we will employ our already agreed upon back-up plan!

If walking and talking sounds like your thing, please register on line and put in notes you are interested in Walk and Talk Therapy. Additional paperwork is required.

Walk and Talk Waiver

You’ve thought about seeking therapy for a while now, but you just can’t figure out how to squeeze it into your schedule.

You know you need to put energy into feeling better about where you are in life and you’re ready to explore options that will work for you and your lifestyle.

Every minute of your life is accounted for. From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep at night you are serving your family, your community, your friends, or work. You’re lucky if you find five minutes in there somewhere to think about yourself and to try to meet your own needs. This go go go is starting to take its toll though, and you’re beginning to feel not quite yourself.

When you find even the smallest moment to reflect it’s obvious you’re not caring for yourself physically, emotionally, or mentally. You’re feeling worn out and beat down and you know something has to change before you get completely overtaken by your overwhelm. You keep thinking it’s time to see a therapist, but you just don’t know how you’ll fit it in.

You don’t want to have to leave work once or twice a week and come up with an explanation for your absence, but you already get home in the evenings with just enough time to tuck your kids into bed. Some early mornings might be an option, but you already don’t get enough sleep once you take care of everything at home. Or you may be a parent who takes care of your children all day. The thought of bringing them to counseling with you just doesn’t sound right for you and paying a sitter isn’t in your budget. You’re thinking there’s got to be a better way.

Well, we’re here to tell you there is. Telemental health sessions allow you to connect with a therapist online, through video. You can get the exact same benefits of driving to a counselor’s office from the comfort of your own home or office. It is possible to get the help you know you need while maintaining the lifestyle you’ve built.

At Aurora Counseling for Healing and Change we’re sure about a few things:

Online counseling offers a safe space to explore things in life that may not be working well without you having to travel to your therapist’s office. It is a healthy and self-caring way to work on yourself and learn better ways to handle your thoughts, feelings, relationships, home, and work life. Together, we can use teletherapy to look at barriers that are keeping you from creating the change you are seeking and find the best ways to implement those changes. We can also help you manage the symptoms that are creating distress in your life, whether it be depression, anxiety, or relational issues.

You need to take care of you. It’s too easy to become buried under stress and to never admit how our choices are affecting us. When this happens, you find yourself turning a blind eye to how you really feel and how you’re truly coping with your circumstances. This doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to give yourself the attention you deserve. It simply means you need a modern approach to taking care of yourself.

That’s where Aurora Counseling comes in:

Aurora Counseling for Healing and Change, LLC is a multi-disciplinary counseling center. Every therapist who works here practices a different specialty and is trained to meet the unique needs of the people in our community. We strive to provide well-rounded care to all who live in our neighborhood. Each therapist tailors their approach to you and makes a point to meet the you where you are in the healing process. We will find the counselor who is the best fit for you and can serve your needs via online therapy.

Angie M Eells, LCSW, BC-TMH is a Board Certified- Tele-mental Health Provider, so what does that mean? The Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider credential identifies those professionals who are uniquely trained in best practices for delivering traditional behavioral healthcare through technological means. BC-TMH credential holders have met nationally established telemental health criteria. Angie M Eells successfully completed both the in-person and online portion of the intensive training and passed the comprehensive final examination. Ms. Eells will also continue to obtain continuing education credits every 2 years to maintain her BC-TMH credential.

When You Seek Therapy at Aurora Counseling:

Aurora Counseling offers teletherapy for clients who would prefer to see their therapist without coming into the office. Online counseling is a good option for clients who have difficulty coming in for appointments because of busy schedules, lack of childcare, a disability, transportation issues or who live too far from the office. We use a convenient, secure, and HIPAA compliant platform on our practice management program Therasoft to provide all online counseling sessions. Easy to use, all you need is a computer with a camera and mic as well as internet access.

At Aurora Counseling, our mission is to help provide all of our clients with access to quality care. We believe everyone can have the life and the relationships they desire. It’s simply a matter of taking advantage of all of the counseling options available.

Additional Documentation is required for tele-mental health clients.

Is Telemental Health a Good Fit for Me?
Telemental Health Information and Consent

Working with children and adolescents includes their parents and siblings as well, and may include extended family when appropriate. I, as the therapist, become a resource for parents. I also join with family members to form a supportive team for the child. Therapy attempted without the active involvement of the family is rarely successful.
Family sessions can also be very useful for adult clients, depending on the willingness of the client and family members to participate. I will be happy to explore with any adult client the potential usefulness of including family sessions as part of your treatment.

Except for the legal situations explained below, you have the absolute right to the confidentiality of your therapy. I cannot and will not disclose to anyone what we discuss in session, or that you are even in counseling, without your written permission.
Legal situations: The following are legal exceptions to your right to confidentiality. Whenever possible, I would inform you if I have to put one of these into effect.

• If I have good reason to believe that you will harm another person, I must attempt to inform that person and warn them of your intentions. I must also contact the police and ask them to protect your intended victim.
• If I have good reason to believe that you are abusing or neglecting a child or vulnerable adult, or if you give me information about someone else who is doing this, I must inform the appropriate authorities.
• If I believe that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself, I may legally break confidentiality and call the police or the county crisis team. I would explore all other options with you before I took this step. If at that point you were unwilling to take steps to guarantee your safety, I would call the crisis team.
• If your record is subpoenaed in a court of law, I will do what I can to protect confidentiality within the limits of abiding by the law.

At Aurora Counseling, an Adult ADHD assessment is thorough and can take up to three hours. Some of this time is spent in a one-to-one clinical interview with Ms. Eells, LCSW but the assessment also involves time in communicating with an observer, assessing information from primary care provider, reviewing assessment tools and synthesizing the information to make a formal diagnosis. Ideally Ms. Eells requests a signed consent to speak someone who knows the patient well now, as this also provides useful information. Ms. Eells may also analyze old school reports, where available, and the assessment questionnaires. After the assessment Ms. Eells will write a comprehensive ADHD assessment report. If we have the patient’s permission, this is sent to their GP, and the patient will receive a copy in the portal. This aims to improve a GP’s understanding of the patient’s condition as sometimes other healthcare providers are not fully aware of the impact ADHD may have in adulthood. If there is outstanding information that still needs gathering, completing the assessment may be delayed.

A full diagnosis, whether this confirms ADHD or any other problem, may be discussed in a follow-up visit. A generous amount of time is allocated to the assessment to make an accurate diagnosis and to ensure that there is adequate time to explain treatment options and answer all questions.

Sources of further information about the diagnosis, for a patient and their family, is provided to help develop an understanding of ADHD (or other diagnosis if relevant) and to assist the patient to better manage their symptoms.

Treatment is either pharmacological (medicine) or psychological (CBT, psychoeducation, behavioral) and aims to reduce the inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive symptoms in ADHD, improve patients’ attitudes to, and capabilities in, managing their day-to-day lives and, therefore, reduce the distress caused by ADHD symptoms - all leading to an improved quality of life.

Components of an Adult ADHD Assessment

An effective ADHD assessment is thorough and multifaceted. Key components typically include:

1. Clinical Interview: A licensed mental health professional will conduct an in-depth interview to gather information about your personal history, symptoms, and any challenges you face in daily life. This may include discussing your childhood experiences, academic performance, and work history.

2. Self-Report Questionnaires: Standardized questionnaires are often used to evaluate the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms. These tools provide valuable insights into your focus, activity levels, and impulsiveness.

3. Behavioral Observations: In some cases, the assessor may observe your behavior in different settings or request input from family members or close friends. This helps to create a comprehensive picture of how ADHD affects your daily life.

4. Diagnosis and Recommendations: After gathering and analyzing all relevant information, the clinician will provide a diagnosis, if applicable, and discuss potential treatment options tailored to your needs.

Take the First Step Towards Understanding

If you suspect you may have ADHD or have been struggling with symptoms for years, an adult ADHD assessment can be a transformative experience. Our compassionate and experienced staff are here to guide you through the assessment process, providing support and resources every step of the way. Embrace the opportunity to gain clarity, develop effective strategies, and lead a fulfilling life. Reach out today to begin your journey towards understanding and empowerment.

Register online at www.auoracounselinglcsw.com or call 706-521-3327 to set up an appointment. Most insurance companies do not pay for an Adult ADHD Assessment and the self-pay rate is $375