Photo credit to Chelsye Bronson
Specializations
The following are areas of treatment that Cora specializes in, has additional training in, and experience in treating.
Life Transitions
Life is constantly changing and you hardly ever get the memo in advance. Finding a way to find your new normal in the unexpected chaos of change can be hard. Common changes that occur like this are the loss of a family member, pregnancies, becoming a legal adult, moving out on your own for the first time, getting a new job or losing a long-term job, or a sudden end to a relationship. Sometimes just having a safe place to express your feelings and thoughts about that change can help facilitate the adjustment going more smoothly.
Substance Use Disorders/ Addiction
Have you had a few beers after work to relax from a stressful day? Have you gotten so drunk you swore you would never do it again? Did it happen again anyway? Maybe you were prescribed a medication for pain, concentration issues, or to clam down but your dosages kept increasing. When you couldn't get the prescription filled in time and you ran out, maybe you felt like crap for a few days. You couldn't focus, felt on edge, maybe even sick to your stomach. Did you think, "I can't live without this!" Maybe you only used a substance like marijuana or ecstasy at parties to loosen up and have fun. Are you still having fun or does it feel like you cannot feel anything without the substance? No one ever starts using a substance with the goal of becoming an addict. The use progresses to that level with little awareness that it is out of hand until well after the consequences begin. Maybe family is expressing concerns? Or your Doctor has told you to stop because your health is at risk? Maybe your bills are overdue, you have been evicted, or lost a job? Maybe now is the time to get help.
Codependency/ Family affected by addiction
Ever feel like you are dealing with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde only you never know who is walking through the door? Do you feel like you are walking on eggshells all the time? It can be exhausting to love someone who constantly breaks promises, sabotages the relationship, and continues to do and say hurtful things. When substances are to blame for the change in behavior, it is hard to separate that from the person you love. But you love this person and want to do everything you can to help them get better. It can be equally hard to think about walking way and losing hope that they will ever get better. Maybe your spouse, child, parent, or sibling is spiraling out of control and you are caught up in the wreckage. You don't know if they are an addict or not, but you know they drink more than they should or their use of substances has drastically increased over time. Are you ready to find out how to have your life return to normal but still love your family? Are you looking for the best way to help them without continuing to sacrifice yourself?
Anger Management
Everyone gets angry so what's the big deal? Yes, everyone gets angry. But not everyone punches holes through walls, scares their kids or spouse with their reaction, or finds themselves in fights facing arrest. Not everyone flies off the handle at the smallest of things. Do you feel like your anger is getting you into trouble, causing difficulties in your relationships, or even disqualifying you from good opportunities? Have the police been called on you multiple times for disrupting the peace, assault and battery concerns, or even domestic abuse? Do you find little things bother you more than the bigger things? Do you ever feel like your reaction is overkill for the situation in the moment but don't know how to stop it? We can work together to help you learn the earlier signs of anger like body language and sensations that clue you into your emotional state. We will also expand your tool kit for addressing anger before it explodes and causes you further problems.
Anxiety
You often find that your worry about all kinds of things, big and small. Maybe you feel on edge all the time constantly looking around because of this intense feeling that something bad is about to happen. You feel that knot in your stomach, or butterflies, that you cannot get to go away. You have thoughts running through your head at such a high speed that you hardly grasp them before they are gone. But these same racing thoughts make it impossible to relax or get restful sleep. You are constantly waking up at night, feeling irritable throughout the day, and feel alone because you are not comfortable being out in crowds or in public. This can make life feel dreadful. It is possible to slow the thoughts, get restful sleep, and have a social life. We will expand your tool kit. You can learn to direct the traffic flow of thoughts so you can be and feel productive in your life.
