Counseling

Arise offers many different types of counseling services to meet the variety of needs that survivors have when they have been impacted by violence and abuse.

Counseling services are offered, free of charge, to:

• Individuals
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Adults
• Children

Counseling services are not only available to survivors, but to their family, friends and other support systems.

Some counseling services are short term and focus on survivor safety and resource building. Topics addressed in short-term counseling include, but are not limited to:

• Understanding the impact of violence and abuse
• Developing coping skills
• Setting boundaries
• Communication
• Increasing self-esteem
• Safety Planning

Counseling services can be long-term as well. Trauma Therapy is a longer-term form of counseling that helps individuals understand and move through the trauma symptoms they experience as a result of violence and abuse. These symptoms typically have a long-term impact on behavior, thoughts and feelings.

WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Trauma describes an bio-psychological response to a terrible event like and accident, violence or disaster.

The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences that are emotionally painful, distressing and that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope, leaving them to feel powerless. Trauma has sometimes been defined in reference to circumstances that are outside the realm of “normal” human experience. Unfortunately, this definitely does not always hold true. For some individuals traumatic experiences can occur frequently, be ongoing and become a part of their regular experience of the world around them.

Trauma Indicators

While the signs and symptoms of trauma can vary widely, listed below are some common indicators that an individual is suffering from unresolved trauma:

• Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation
• Social withdraw
• Explosive anger, hostility, or other intense emotions
• Flat affect/no display of emotion
• Impulsive behaviors
• Promiscuity
• Criminal behavior
• Substance abuse
• Interpersonal problems or strained attachment
• Physical health problems

Arise offers group counseling sessions.

• Ongoing weekly self-esteem group for adults
• Parenting Classes are offered throughout the year
• Child and adolescent support groups are offered throughout the year

Arise counselors are trained in a variety of evidenced-based techniques and other best-practice including, but not limited to:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• The Incredible Year Parenting Curriculum
• A Window Between Worlds
• Somatic Experiencing
• Expressive Arts Therapy

For more information about counseling services, please contact Lee Shultz, Director of Counseling Services, at 724-856-4305 or [email protected]. To complete an intake for counseling services 24/7, please call our hotline at 724-652-9036.

Individual, Family & Group Counseling helps individuals understand how they have been impacted by violence and abuse and teaches coping skills and other important interpersonal skills so that individuals can regain control over their thoughts and feelings.

Parenting Classes help individuals connect and established strong bonds with their children.

Trauma Therapy is a longer-term form of counseling that helps individuals understand and move through the trauma symptoms they experience as a result of violence and abuse. These symptoms typically have a long-term impact on behavior, thoughts and feelings.