Kevin Jones, Licensed Professional Counselor

I have found it best to spend at least one or two sessions really getting to know you. You can expect a lot of talking with me, asking for clarification, and probing beyond the surface. If you have sought therapy for anxiety and or posttraumatic stress (PTSD) trauma, we will work on both thinking (cognitive) and emotions (somatic). To look into cognitive areas, we will use cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). For more somatic, body-based symptoms, we will work on calming the nervous system through breathing and poly-vagal techniques. Essentially, how to relax and calm the nerves that are creating unpleasant feelings. I also work a great deal with clients in mid-life who find they have to adjust to different circumstances, such as the children leaving the nest, work is no longer as rewarding as it once was, and feeling mid to late life 'dizziness'. We can use more life-based, existential therapies for this. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) often helps. This is a values-based 'third wave' therapy that incorporates both philosophy and psychology. Logo Therapy has also helped many of my clients. I advise reading Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Whatever the reasons for looking for a therapist, we can explore and collaborate to find a path forward.

Over the last five years I have developed many tools to help veterans and first responders with the symptoms of acute trauma, these work for both PTSD and Acute trauma. We will work to target both anxiety and hypervigilence from both the mind, racing thoughts, and the panic attacks which seem to come from nowhere. We will be direct, to the point and solution focused. At first we can concentrate on how to gain control over your body and your thoughts. For many symptom reduction is all they need to live a fuller life. If you feel the need to pursue a more mission driven purposeful life we can work on that. Of course, this often takes longer. Mid-life is often a difficult time for many. Life can lose it's purpose, depression can creep in. Life looks good and every thing 'should be good' yet it isn't satisfying. Over time we can investigate what is important and how to live a value driven life.

Psychotherapy has two functions. Initially any debilitating depression or anxiety need to be addressed. Once we have better control over the mind and body it is often most therapeutic to move on to life issues involving values and purpose.