My name is Tim Whistine. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) serving clients via teletherapy in the States of Louisiana (Lic# 6304) and Texas (Lic #87356). I have a combined 10+ years of clinical experience working with Court Systems, Private Clinics, and in a 100-bed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF). I utilize referrals at such times when my professional competencies have been exhausted or are not adequate pertaining to the needed treatment. Because my Graduate program was in Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT), I love working with people in relationships experiencing difficulties and who are passionate about finding ways to improve their interactions or relational dynamics such as listening, communicating, intimacy, repairing trust, or other relational damage resulting from infidelity, etc. Life gives us hurt and pain. God offers us healing. I believe counseling to be one of the ways God enables us to seize the moment in front of us, not running from it, but facing it head-on with commitment and purpose. Let me join with you on your journey toward wholeness and restoration.

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

In our first session, we spend some time getting acquainted. This is important to the formation of a therapeutic alliance in which a therapist and client create trust and rapport. The need for complete honesty in counseling is essential, so learning to trust is a fundamental component of this therapeutic alliance or a joining together like the two separate halves of a pair of scissors. When joined together, the two halves, working in unison, are more effective than when separated. This "joining" is the work of establishing a deep sense of trust that makes honesty possible. Too, this helps create a calmness and sense of safety for my clients. As a counselor, I rely heavily on my client to provide full disclosure of their problems so I am able to conceptualize and understand the full context of their experience. The process of full disclosure is much simpler when trust is present to create feelings of safety. You need not feel tense or uncomfortable in the first or the twelfth session with me. I focus on being empathic and non-judgmental. Too, I ask open-ended questions to help facilitate conversation. Please remember that "Yes" and "No" are seldom good answers to questions because they provide no details. Psychotherapy is often referred to as the "talking cure" because talking about disturbances has amazing potential to help you arrive at a solution.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

I utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) which involves talk therapy or psychotherapy, examining thought processes that may contribute to the symptoms or problematic behaviors. Identifying and modifying faulty thinking enables a client to be more mindful about their behaviors. Problematic behaviors are often driven or sustained by faulty thinking. I also utilize Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), which is future-focused. There is not much that can be done to change the past, except to try and understand it. Time is better spent looking toward the future, setting goals, building hope, and identifying the life that is desired. Other modalities may be utilized if needed.

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

Based on the feedback I have received from the scores of clients I have served, it is their collective opinion that I am a great listener, very empathic and non-judgmental, accepting but direct when necessary, humorous at times, provide good biblical insights for those seeking counsel from a biblical worldview, and very supportive throughout the therapeutic process whether Christian or not.

About Tim Whistine