Therapist Profile

My Approach to Helping

Having uncertainties, problems and making mistakes are a normal part of life. Knowing how to solve the uncertainties or problems and learn from the mistakes sometimes is not easy and obvious. Counseling and therapy are meant to help people learn and use new problem-solving approaches and skills. Counseling and therapy starts with listening: listening to the concerns and problems that lead you to seek help, listening to the story of your life up to this point, and listening to the desires and goals that you have for your life in the future. I focus on helping people resolve their stressors and problems through increasing self-awareness, improving self-acceptance, learning new ways of thinking, and choosing new ways of acting. I see clients who are interested in Personal Growth: stress reduction; depression relief; anxiety mastery; anger resolution; grieving support; solutions for problems with or from alcohol and/or drug use, computer use, sexual behaviors, gambling, eating, spending. Improved Relating to Others: conflict resolution, renewed respect and appreciation for committed couples; problem solutions for individuals in unsatisfying or distressing relationships successful strategies for parents of teens and young adults with problem behaviors; supportive strategies for those with a loved one who struggles with addictive behaviors; respectful communication and healthy boundary setting with difficult and/or intrusive family or friends; and problem solving for conflicts at work with peers, and/or supervisors. Spiritual Growth: coming to terms with unfairness in life; dealing with guilt and finding freedom to be your own best person; compassionately healing the shame of feeling not good enough or defective; letting go of endless suffering and accepting transforming pain; finding a deeper sense of meaning and purpose for living; articulating and committing to personal values and mission; and exploring and developing mature spiritual beliefs and practices. Goals that I hope for my clients include: self-acceptance, self-esteem, serenity, confidence, successful communication, satisfying relationships, compassion for one's self, compassion for others, courage to live one's principles and values, wisdom, gratitude, and joy.

More Info About My Practice

Albert V. Pohl, M.Div. Licensed Professional Counselor Certified Addiction Counselor Diplomate Certified Clinical Supervisor Experience I have over 25 years of experience in a broad range of human service work, including individual, couple and family counseling; group therapy; clinical supervision; administration; training of professionals and consultation for business. I have over 15 years in the field of addictions: working as a counselor, therapsit and clinical coordinator in detox, residential, halfway house, intensive outpatient and outpatient settings. I specialize in helping people who struggle with addiction and other mental health problems such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and histories of neglect, abuse and trauma. I have been a Certified Addiction Counseling Diplomate since 1994, a Certified Clinical Coordinator since 2001 and a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2002. I have been an Oral Examiner for Certified Addiction Counselor candidates. And I have presented trainings for addiction professionals sponsored by the Pennsylvanie Certification Board on. Leading Groups: Engaging Education and Therapy and Authority Issues in Addictions Treatment. I served as the Executive Administrator of a community residential program for individuals struggling with severe and persistent mental illness (mostly schizophrenia and related disorders). For 6 years I was an Assistant Director of the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, PA. I provided counseling in personal, vocational and spiritual areas; taught such topics as spirituality, Jungian psychology, interpersonal communication skills, and organizational theory and practice; and facilitated training programs, staff meetings and planning sessions. I taught English to high school Juniors and Seniors for 2 years. Education B.A. Fordham University, Bronx, NY, 1973, majoring in English and philosophy M. Div. (Master of Divinity) S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology), The Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 1984, majoring in systematic theology and spirituality 500+ hours of Continuing Education and Training in the last 15 years Internships Community Organizing Training at Saul Alinsky's Industrial Areas Foundation, Chicago, IL (July, August 1972) Spiritual and Retreat Direction at The Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, PA (July-August 1975; July-August 1976; and July-August 1977) Chemical Dependency Counseling at The Caron Foundation, Wernersville, PA (September 1990-May 1991)