Therapy That Starts With the Person, Not the Problem
At Present Tense Therapy, we believe people are more than the problems that bring them to counseling.
Anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, stress, and major life changes can become overwhelming, but they do not define who you are. Counseling provides a place to better understand what you are experiencing, recognize patterns that may no longer be helping, and develop new ways of moving forward.
Our role is not to tell you how to live your life or to treat you like something that needs to be fixed. We approach counseling as a collaborative process in which your experiences, strengths, values, relationships, and goals matter.
Counseling Is Collaborative
We believe effective counseling happens through a genuine and respectful therapeutic relationship.
You bring knowledge of your own life, experiences, and circumstances. Your therapist brings professional training, clinical experience, and an outside perspective. Together, we work to understand what is happening and determine what may be helpful.
That means therapy at Present Tense is not a one-size-fits-all process. Counseling is adapted to the individual rather than expecting the individual to fit a particular method.
Understanding the Past Without Losing Sight of the Present
Our name reflects an important part of how we think about counseling.
Sometimes understanding the past is necessary. Earlier experiences can influence how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we respond to situations today.
At the same time, therapy also focuses on what is happening in your life now and what you want your life to look like moving forward.
The goal is not to remain focused on the past indefinitely. It is to understand what matters from the past, recognize how it may be affecting the present, and develop greater freedom in deciding what comes next.
Healing for your past. Hope for your future. Life in the present tense.
Our Counseling Approaches
Our therapists use evidence-informed counseling approaches while tailoring treatment to the needs of each client.
Depending on the therapist, client, and concern, counseling may incorporate approaches such as:
Person-centered therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Trauma-informed approaches
Mindfulness-based interventions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Strengths-based counseling
Rather than choosing techniques simply because they belong to a particular theory, we consider what fits the person, the concern, and the goals of counseling.
What You Can Expect
Your first sessions will typically focus on understanding what brought you to counseling, what has been happening in your life, and what you hope will be different.
You and your therapist will work together to establish goals and determine an approach that makes sense for you.
During counseling, you may:
Explore thoughts, emotions, experiences, and relationships
Identify patterns that contribute to distress
Develop practical strategies for managing difficult situations
Learn new ways of responding to thoughts and emotions
Process difficult or traumatic experiences when appropriate
Clarify personal values and priorities
Strengthen coping skills and relationships
Work toward meaningful changes in everyday life
Some sessions may involve practical problem-solving and skill development. Others may involve deeper reflection or processing difficult experiences. Therapy may change over time as your needs and goals change.
You Are More Than a Diagnosis
Diagnoses can sometimes provide useful information and help guide treatment, but they are not the whole person.
We believe counseling should make room for the complexity of someone's life—their experiences, relationships, culture, strengths, losses, hopes, and circumstances—not simply a collection of symptoms.
You do not have to arrive at therapy knowing exactly what is wrong or knowing exactly what you need.
Sometimes knowing that something does not feel right is enough of a place to begin.
Finding the Right Fit
Casie and James each bring different areas of training, experience, and clinical interest to Present Tense Therapy.
We encourage you to learn more about each therapist and consider whose experience and approach seem most closely aligned with what you are looking for.
If you are not sure where to begin, contact us. We can help you determine which therapist and type of service may be the best fit.