Since becoming a counselor, I have worked in a variety of community counseling settings. I have worked with clients from ages 3 through 80 and with individuals, couples, and families. With that breadth of experience, very little shocks or surprises me and I have gotten a pretty good sense of where the types of counseling that play to my strengths as a counselor overlap with the types of counseling that are helpful for my clients. This sense (along with learning about lots and lots of research into what helps people find and maintain mental health) has led to the following guiding principles that shape all the counseling I do: 1) The client is always in charge. I know a lot of things but you will always be the one who decides what you want to get out of counseling, how we work towards that goal, whether or not what we’re doing seems to be working, and when we’re done. 2) Change and health happen through relationships. No matter what you come in for, there are always relational implications of change and relational factors that contribute to whatever it is that you came to counseling to change. 3) Counseling should be efficient. Counseling has significant costs in time and money. I think the benefits far outweigh the costs but if I can give you the benefits while helping you save on the costs then I want to do that.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

A first session starts with brief introductions. After that I go over some information about therapy and what you can expect from me. Then we spend most of the time talking about what you have been experiencing and what you want therapy to help you change. This generally involves me asking a lot of questions. Finally, we end with a brief overview from me of how I make sense of what you told me and how I think we should proceed. If that works for you then we figure out logistics for the next session.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I believe that my biggest strengths as a counselor are my ability to do two things really well: 1) I can provide shelter during a storm. Living in Florida has shown me what a real storm is and whether our emotions and relationships feel like a light drizzle or a category 5 hurricane, it's nice to have a place to get out of the wind and rain, pause, get some warm food, and patch up our rain gear before heading back out. I can give my clients that experience for at least a little while each week. 2) I have the training and breadth of experience to know what specific tools and experiences might be most helpful in addressing the root of what my clients are experiencing. In other words, I can balance helping my clients have the strength to make it through tomorrow while also doing the work that makes future tomorrows easier and more life giving.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

Many of the clients who have the best experience with me are clients who have either not been helped by other therapy or have reached the end of what other therapy can do. They are clients who are looking for change that is deeper and longer lasting than what they can get from worksheets or books.

About Austin Schrag

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