I certainly know how life can throw you a curve you didn't see coming! But I believe in the personal power of the individual to overcome life's challenges. Sometimes we just need someone to ask us particular questions or put things in a different way or help us learn how to navigate the road we're on. I want to share what I've learned and utilized in my own life on this incredible journey we're all taking! I'm a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina and a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina. With over 20 years of experience providing counseling services, I help people who are coping with moderate depression, anxiety, difficult life transitions such as breakup/divorce/relocation/empty nest, conflict in a peer or family relationship, codependent habits, adult children of a parent(s) with alcoholism or addiction, spouse/partner/ parent of those with alcoholism or addiction, personal growth, adult ADHD and grief/loss. My ideal client is between the ages of 22-85. I primarily use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Reality Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), solution-focused therapy, and breath work/physical symptom reduction. I also recently completed certification in Nutritional Counseling for Mental Health. I'm learning to use IRT and EFT therapy for some clients. I want to figure out what works for you!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, I will find out about you and your present challenges. We will establish goals and see what we can create together. I will explain my approach and what to expect going forward. We will set up a schedule for sessions that works with accomplishing your goals, providing the support needed, and is considerate of the other demands on your time.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As someone who has overcome my own challenges and transitions, I am ready to share with you the keys to achieving freedom from depression, worry, and stress by gaining personal freedom and learning a new psychology of health and joy! I think I am able to empower clients to identify and make healthier choices, have healthier relationships, and gain mastery over life's challenges. I think I can relate to a lot of the challenges people face in achieving a "smoother ride" through life, while navigating the curves and potholes, and staying out of the ditches!
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I enjoy working with clients ages 22-85 who want things to change and recognize the change needs to start with you. You want the ability to direct your own life and chart the healthiest course for yourself. You enjoy learning something practical and new, and like an interactive approach, with exploration, discussion, and direction. We may talk about the past to learn from it, but we will not dwell on it. Our goal is to move forward, with personal freedom, personal responsibility and choice.
About Suzanne Hillin
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Reality Therapy
When I was in my 30s I learned I could achieve personal freedom while building healthier relationships with the people I love. Choice theory and Reality therapy provide the keys to achieving freedom from depression, worry, and stress by empowering us to choose those thoughts and actions that more effectively lead to satisfaction of our essential needs. I've lived my life based on Choice theory and found it to be highly effective in navigating all of life's challenges!
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT helps us learn to identify the thoughts and actions (behaviors) that are creating our emotional response. Once identified, we can then evaluate their helpfulness, logic, or truthfulness and then challenge any negative cognitions and behaviors, improve our "self talk," and adopt thoughts and actions that promote more positive emotional responses. The answer to our distress is to make different choices. We aren't stuck with the thoughts our brain generates. We can choose!
Grief Therapy
Grief is an individual experience that does not go through a series of exact stages and may look different than the way others grieve around you. With grief therapy, I am here to support your personal experience and encourage/suggest ways to move with the grief, honoring it, and learning to carry it with love and gratitude for what you shared with your loved one, and finding your acceptance and peace with your loss in your way.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
REBT is a method for learning how our thinking can be illogical, over-generalized, or "distorted" by automatic, habitual thoughts our brain latched on to and then reframing or changing our perspective to challenge and change our conclusions in ways that lead us to be less distressed. It's a tried and true method that really works. I know because I learned to use it in my own life!
Mind-body approach
I am certified in Nutritional Counseling and really emphasize nutritional and lifestyle interventions that can help our brain work better. These approaches can enhance the effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatment, and some may even help reduce or eliminate the need for pharmaceutical treatment. There's also research on how some breathing and meditative practices can help our brain function better.