Individual Therapy in Ames
What is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy (sometimes called “psychotherapy” or “counseling”) is a process where individuals work with a trained therapist to process address a variety of issues. Issues can include stress, trauma, conflictual relationships, or finding a better work/life balance. Therapy happens in a safe and confidential environment. Our goal at Vivant is to help clients identify and reach his/her individual goals.
Individual therapy at Vivant also makes space for the relationship and family dynamics that shape your wellbeing — including navigating conflict with a partner, family stress, estrangement, and the ripple effects of difficult family relationships. Even in one-on-one sessions, these relational themes are often central to the work.
At Vivant Live Well in Ames, Iowa, individual therapy draws on evidence-based modalities including CBT, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), tailored to what each client needs.
Individual Therapy Sessions
Individual therapy sessions are generally 45-50 minutes in length and individuals are welcome to invite others if he/she/they feel(s) it would be beneficial. There is no right or wrong way to share feelings in therapy. We have seen most everything including tears, swearing, laughing, etc. This is a place for people to explore their feelings, beliefs, or behaviors, work through challenging or influential memories, identify aspects of their lives that they would like to change, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, and work toward desired change.
How Individual Therapy Works in Ames
Every individual is different, there is not one right or wrong way to do therapy.
- In the first session you’ll be asked lots of questions. This gives your therapist a good idea of the whole person, not just emotionally what is happening.
- Our therapists like to get feedback about what he/she/they think(s) would be helpful and together decide what direction to go. Sometimes that is just continuing individual therapy, other times it may be adding a referral for another service (ie family counseling, medication management, nutritionist, etc.).
- Once clients identify the goals to work on in therapy, we work to determine how often session should be and evaluate if they need to continue. Some people may only come for 1-2 sessions and find relief and others may come regularly for several years.
It’s okay if you feel like your therapist is not a good fit.
Our goal is for the individuals who come to our office to find what works for them.
What to Expect
Learn more about what to expect before, during and after your session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our practice? Check out our FAQs.