CPC, 24 years of experience
New to Grow
Welcome! I am Elaine McCullough. I commend you for taking the first step in bettering your emotional and mental health. It takes a lot of courage to schedule that first therapy session. Although it can be scary and confusing, it can also be empowering. I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment that allows clients to explore obstacles and concerns related to anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, and/or self-care. I focus on helping clients develop assertive communication & boundaries with themselves and those around them that can help improve their quality of life.
Normally, during the first session, the client and I will become more acquainted with each other. I will ask questions to gain clarity on what led the client to schedule the first session. The questions are intended to give me and the client insight into the presenting issue(s), areas of concern, and how the concerns impact daily functioning. The client is offered the opportunity to ask questions at any time during the session. Toward the conclusion of the session, I invite the client to state what their goal(s) of therapy are, and we will identify and discuss steps to move toward the stated goals. If the client and I are a good fit, we will discuss scheduling further therapy sessions and the agreed-upon frequency of sessions.
My therapeutic approach includes helping clients identify automatic negative thoughts that impact feelings and subsequently result in certain behaviors and decision-making, decision-making that may result in the person feeling stuck.
The clients that I am best positioned to serve are individuals who are dealing with concerns that are impacting their day-to-day functioning in the areas of family, occupational, personal, and social life. I enjoy helping clients reach goals that help them communicate and cope more effectively. The hoped-for result is to help them move past feeling stuck and stagnant.