Private Psychotherapy, Counseling and Coaching

• Abuse (Physical, Sexual, Emotional/Psychological, Verbal, Financial, Spiritual, Neglect and Self-Neglect)
• Addiction and Recovery (Chemical, Process, Relationship, Love and Sexual Addiction)
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Boundaries
• (Neuroscience) Brain Training
• Coaching (Executive, Leadership, Peak Performance and Marriage)
• Codependency
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Couples/Marriage Counseling
• Depression
• Divorce Counseling
• Emotional Intelligence
• Grief and Loss
• Infidelity Repair
• Parenting & Blended Family
• Personality Disorders (Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, Borderline Personality Disorder Partners Recovery)
• Relational Intelligence
• Relationship with Self/Self-Acceptance Work
• Sex Therapy
• Trauma (EMDR Trained Therapist)
• 2nd Half of Life Work (for men) – Moving from Ego Driven Life to a Life Driven by Meaning/Purpose

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• Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
• How can therapy help me?
• What is therapy like?
• How long is a session?
• How many sessions will I need?
• Is medication a substitute for therapy?
• Do you accept insurance?
• Is therapy confidential?
• What if my spouse won’t come to therapy?
• What model of therapy do you use?
• To what degree is your faith integrated into your therapy?

Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.

The truth is, being human means that we all experience feelings of anxiety, confusion and frustration. If we choose, these feelings can serve as a motivation to improve our lives, foster wellness and ultimately become more whole. It certainly takes both courage and self-awareness to realize that you could benefit from a guide. In fact, in seeking therapeutic help, you are taking responsibility by accepting where you are in life and making a commitment to change the situation. Therapy provides an avenue to verbalize feelings in a safe, unbiased atmosphere while giving you tools for resolving an issue – new methods and ways of thinking that can be reused and built upon as you move toward positive change.

How can therapy help me?

Through therapy you gain professional perspective in an unbiased, trusting atmosphere. Most importantly, we’ll engage in an alliance in which the focus is on your issue(s) and the steps you can take to regain your feeling of peace and balance.

What is therapy like?

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. I offer several tracks and packages to chose from (see the Private Counseling page). Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal and/or relationship growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change and create greater awareness in their lives.

How long is a session?

Sessions are usually 50 minutes. I also offer 75 and 100 minute sessions as well as 1/2, 1, 2 day Intensives for individuals, couples and families. Learn more about Dr. Gornto’s Services, Tracks, and Intensives.

How many sessions will I need?

I will customize your treatment plan to your individual needs. I will work with you to determine the number of sessions recommended, although your total investment is often not known at the onset of counseling. If an issue has been present in your life for a long time, it will most likely take a significant amount of time for you to find resolution and healing. If a problem has occurred in the recent past and is somewhat isolated, it can likely be resolved or improved within a relatively short period of time, such as four or six sessions.

Is medication a substitute for therapy?

Although I do not prescribe psychiatric medication therapy, research indicates that for some issues, therapy combined with medication yields the most beneficial results. It is well researched and documented that long-term solutions to mental and emotional problems can not be resolved with medication alone. Instead of treating the symptoms, therapy addresses the cause and source of problem(s). If needed, I will recommend you see your doctor and/or psychiatrist to develop the best treatment plan regarding medication. Homeopathic options will also be discussed and recommended.

Do you accept insurance?

I am an out-of-network provider. My office will provide you with the appropriate documentation to submit to your health insurance company. Mental health insurance benefits vary depending on your particular insurance coverage. To determine if you have mental health coverage, check with your insurance company to find out answers to the following questions:

• How much does my plan pay per therapy session for an out-of-network provider?
• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
• How much do sessions cost?

For fee information, please call or email my office at (972) 312-8893 or admin@auxanocousneling.com

Is therapy confidential?

What you share in therapy is your information, not mine. The fundamental intent of client confidentiality is to protect your right to privacy by ensuring that matters you discuss in therapy are not disclosed without your written informed consent. Please see the Limits of Confidentiality/Therapy Cancellation Policy and Authorization to Disclose Information Release forms that you will receive at the start of therapy.

What if my spouse won’t come to therapy?

While optimum results are obtained when both spouses attend marriage or family therapy, there are times when one party simply chooses not to participate. Counseling with only one spouse is still beneficial in the areas of personal development, relationship dynamics and coping skills. In addition, the expectation for each client beginning therapy is to take ownership of what he or she wants from therapy. This includes goal setting as well as being willing to do work outside (i.e. homework) between sessions. Please see the Client Rights and Responsibility form that you will receive at the start of therapy.

What model of therapy do you use?

My orientation/philosophy for therapy is primarily family systems theory (Murray Bowen). “Bowen family systems theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit.” Simply put, our families of origin affect our images of self and others, as well as influence our choices and behavior.

I also use Gestalt Therapy, an existential and experiential psychotherapy, that focuses on the individual’s experience in the present moment (the here and now), the therapist-client relationship, the environment and social context in which events occur, and the self-regulating adjustments people make as a result of the overall situation. It is up to the therapist to help lead the client to awareness of a moment-by-moment experience of life, and then to challenge the client to accept the responsibility of taking care of themselves rather then expecting others to do it. This may include treatment of crisis intervention, marital/family therapy, problems in children’s behavior, psychosomatic disorders, or the training of mental health professionals.

For couples, I use a combination of Family Systems Theory, EFT, Gottman, and Behavioral. Additionally, I use Solution-Focused and Narrative Therapy for individuals and couples.

I use CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for anxiety, depression and anger management as well as DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).

To what degree is your faith/spirituality integrated into your therapy?

I use my training in both psychology and theology. The therapeutic work takes into account the emotional, physical, relational and spiritual self, with the belief that God desires to bring health and healing to the whole person. All human beings are created with a need for purpose, meaning, and significant connection with others as well as designed with a capacity for growth. I am dedicated to providing the highest quality mental health care to assist you in achieving your goals. Applying therapeutic approaches and techniques, I will assist you in becoming more aware of long-standing or historical behavior patterns or unhealthy perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling, peaceful and meaningful life. With faith as the basis of all I do, the depth of the spiritual discussions in therapy will vary greatly depending on the individual.

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