How I can help:

In therapy, I strive to provide a supportive, safe environment, where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, life events and options.  This creates the opportunity for you to

• learn to increase positive feelings
• improve your relationships
• understand yourself and others better
• come to terms with painful events and find peace
• make necessary decisions or changes
• learn new and effective coping strategies
• and get control of your life!

I draw on my training, clinical experience and empathy, to help you work through difficult issues, and to help you change problematic patterns.  You can feel better, and be more satisfied with life.  I can help.

If you have any questions about how counseling can help, I’d be happy to answer them for you, whether or not you decide to make an appointment.  Feel free to call me with questions at 708-429-6999.

Theoretical Approaches

I believe that most theoretical approaches to understanding people have something to offer.  Each theory adds another piece to the puzzle by offering useful insights, principles and techniques.  Integrating various theories gives me the flexibility to address a wide variety of concerns.  Each unique case calls for a unique combination of psychological theories, principles and techniques.

Here is a list of a few fundamental theories and approaches to therapy which I incorporate into treatment.

1. Cognitive: Cognitive theories focus on thinking, perception and understanding.  Our thoughts, interpretations, assumptions and beliefs often determine how we feel and react to situations.  I have often seen my clients struggle with issues which had their roots in mis-interpretations, mis-understandings, and tendencies to automatically interpret things in one way or another.  Through therapy, I hope to give you the opportunity to examine your thinking, check your assumptions and conclusions, challenge negative or distorted thinking patterns, and increase accurate and balanced thoughts, feelings and behaviors in your life.

2. Developmental: Developmental theories focus on growth, development and learning.  Freud started us off with his stages of psychosexual development, which were central in his development of psychoanalysis as a method for helping people.  Psychologists have continued to expand and deepen our understanding of development ever sine then.  We have examined development in numerous areas including: cognitive, social, personality, learning, career, and moral development.  I have found developmental theories very useful in helping me understand what motivates my clients’ behaviors and thoughts, and how their past experiences (especially childhood experiences) may be influencing the issues they are working on now.  Also, developmental psychology sheds light on parenting, life transitions, aging, relationship dynamics, career issues, and more.

3. Behavioral: Behaviorism focuses on how behavior is affected by conditioning and reinforcement.  Behavioral theories dominated psychology in the first half of the twentieth century.  Behaviorism has its limitations, but it can also be very practical and useful.  I have found behavioral techniques especially helpful when trying to change unhealthy behavior patterns (lifestyle modification, quitting tobacco or other substances), and for parenting (reducing temper tantrums, regaining control of children, increasing children’s positive behaviors).  I almost always use behavioral theories in conjunction with cognitive theories, as in “cognitive behavioral therapy” or CBT.  Behavior analysis, which focuses exclusively on behavior (rather than “the mind”) has become a specialty.

4. Humanist: The psychological theory of humanism developed in response to psychoanalysis and behaviorism, and emphasizes the positive and healthy aspects of human psychology.  It acknowledges that there is something unique about human beings that sets us apart from animals.  Contrary to philosophical humanism, it does not reject spirituality or theism, but rather breaks ranks with previous theories in acknolwedging spirituality as significant in human life.  Humanism focuses less on pathology and abnormal behavior, and emphasizes the basic goodness of human beings.  It focuses on questions of meaning, purpose, values, and intentions.  I incorporate principles of humanism when I work with spiritual concerns, death and dying, grief, self-actualization, issues of dignity, self-esteem, self-worth, depression, life goals, wellness, change, and growth, among others.  A few specific appraches to therapy related to humanism are solution focused therapy, strength based therapy, and person centered therapy.

5. Social Learning: Social learning theories, and social development theories, focus on learning that occurs within a social context.  Key ideas here are observation, attention, imitation, modeling (as in role models), expectations and consequences.  Social learning theory incorporates principles of behaviorism and cognitive therapy, and adds to them by emphasizing the fundamental role of relationships in human learning, decisions, morals, behaviors, etc.  It is also a type of developmental theory, in that it describes factors and processes involved in learning and growing.  The principles of social learning have been useful to me in understanding cultural differences, family patterns, lifestyles, coping styles, communication patterns, and the types of roles that a person assumes in their relationships.

In summary

As you might imagine, there are almost an infinite number of specific theories in psychology… almost as many as there are researchers and theorists.  The above theories give you a sampling of some of the most fundamental theories that I incorporate into my work.

Anda Jines offers therapy services in the southwest suburbs of Chicago including therapy services in Tinley Park, therapy services in Oak Forest, therapy services in Orland Park and the surrounding area.

Four Factors Essential to Therapy

Psychological & Counseling Services
Individuals – Couples – Families

Philosophy

I would never claim to have all the answers to your problems, or to be able to fix them all. However, I do believe in the power of talk therapy to make a profound and positive difference in people’s lives, and to help them move towards their goals.  There are four key factors that make therapy helpful:

1. Therapeutic Relationship: First, having a supportive and trusting relationship with a counselor can be therapeutic in and of itself. Knowing that I won’t be judgmental, and that I accept you as you are, even while helping you work towards your goals, can be a new experience for people. This can be especially important for people who have been hurt in the past, who have difficulty trusting or feeling safe, and who have relationship issues.

2. Emotional Experiencing: Second, therapy offers an opportunity for emotional experiencing and processing. Research has shown this to be a powerful and useful experience. For some this comes naturally, and it’s comforting to have a place where they can safely process their emotions. But it is especially useful for people who tend to avoid their emotions (and therefore avoid dealing with their issues). Fear of emotions is an important obstacle to overcome, and learning to manage them is an important skill to learn.

3. Learning: Another crucial element of therapy is the opportunity it creates for learning. This may be the kind of learning that naturally comes out of reflecting on your life events, and gradually seeing things more clearly. Or it may be more didactic, as in the case of coping skills, communication skills or any set of skills. It is especially important to learn about yourself by observing your emotions, thoughts and behavior patterns, or by reviewing past events that affect you to this day. Learning psychological principles about what is healthy versus unhealthy can also be helpful when applied to your specific situation.

4. Practicing New Behaviors: Lastly, therapy gives you the opportunity to practice new behaviors. Whether you practice them in session or between sessions, new behaviors are how you translate what you’ve learned into action. It’s easier said than done, and takes time and patience, but practicing healthy new behaviors can have a lasting influence on your life, emotions, and relationships. Of course, it’s up to you to decide what behaviors you want to change and how. Ultimately you are in charge of your own life, and only you can steer it in the direction where you want to go. Each time you practice a new behavior, you are taking a step towards your goal.

Offering psychologist services, therapy services, and psychological testing in Tinley Park, therapy services in Oak Forest, therapy services in Orland Park and the surrounding area.

Psychological & Counseling Services
Individuals – Couples – Families

Counseling versus Therapy

The words “counseling” and “therapy” and “talk therapy” can be used interchangeably, as synonyms.  The term counseling, however, is most concise and least confusing; because there are many very different kinds of therapy, such as physical therapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy and others.  If I say that I am a therapist, this is more likely to be misunderstood than if I say that I am a counselor.

Counseling Psychology versus Clinical Psychology

A counselor (or “counseling psychologist”) is a specific type of psychologist.  Counseling theory is psychological theory, and counselors utilize the same clinical techniques as clinical psychologists.  However, counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders.  In other words, rather than primarily focusing on pathology, counseling psychology looks at the whole picture, including people who may be struggling with life circumstances or transitions, but who are not mentally ill.  Counselors are trained to deal with emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns.  They can help both healthy and mentally ill people to set and achieve their life goals, and to function personally and socially across the life span.

If you’re looking for counseling and mental health services in Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Orland Park, and the surrounding area, please call 708-429-6999 to set up an appointment or to ask questions. Tinley Park counseling service, Oak Forest counseling service, Orland Park counseling service. Call today.

Anda Jines MS, LCPC, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Offering counseling services in the southwest suburbs of Chicago

Offering counseling services in the southwest suburbs of Chicago including counseling services in Tinley Park, counseling services in Oak Forest, counseling services in Orland Park and the surrounding area.

Although it is important to have a natural support system to turn to in difficult times, some issues are difficult to handle with just the help of family or friends. Your problems may be personal, complicated, vague, or deeply rooted; or you may want the input of an objective third party. Sometimes family and friends might not be available as much as you need, or they might not know how to help.

A counselor can:

• help you to feel heard and understood; and to express your thoughts and emotions in a safe, supportive environment.
• help you pinpoint problems, problem-solve, gain insight into what is causing your difficulties, come up with ideas about how to feel better, and help you make decisions.
• teach you specific life skills; like parenting skills, stress management skills, relationship skills, communication skills, organization skills, how to change your unhealthy habits, and more.
• help you make a plan that includes certain activities, techniques, or skills. Having a counselor to check in with can help you fine tune and follow through with your plan.
• give you honest feedback, and help you learn how to give and receive feedback with others.
• recommend literature and provide you with handouts relevant to your issues.
• help you recognize and challenge problematic thinking patterns that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, and to develop a more positive outlook.
• help you discover your strengths and how to use them to grow stronger in other areas; and help you regain a sense of control and pleasure in life.
• help you explore things about your past, your family, and your life patterns, to get at the deeper causes of your discomfort.

If you feel stuck, counseling can help you look beyond the obvious.  It is a process that can help you identify your specific obstacles to change, happiness, or satisfying relationships; and then gradually work on overcoming these obstacles.

If you’re looking for counseling and mental health services in Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Orland Park, and the surrounding area, please call 708-429-6999 to set up an appointment or to ask questions. Tinley Park counseling service, Oak Forest counseling service, Orland Park counseling service. Call today.

Anda Jines MS, LCPC, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Offering counseling services in the southwest suburbs of Chicago