Hello! My name is Max Croteau and I have had the pleasure of being a licensed professional counselor for almost 10 years now. In this time, I have been able to mold my style of understanding, accepting while also challenging and motivational into a successful model of growth and change for those who choose to work with me. I truly am a believer that therapy can sometimes be a side-by-side process, or it can be a process where one guides and the other follows, but ultimately the choice is up to you. I don’t want you to live a life that I tell you to live. I want to help you find a life that is truly a genuine fit for yourself and one that you can see yourself living without even having to think about it. I’ve specialized in addiction, OCD, trauma therapy, family and couples counseling and various other topics in the world of mental health. One important factor that I have found is that each person has their own individual story and their journey will be just as individualized. No matter how similar, we are all different. A cookie cutter approach to the rest of your life is not something that you will get from me. I will truly meet you where you are and work with you every step of the way to achieve the success that you are looking for. I always guarantee every person I work with that therapy may not be easy, but in the end, it will be incredibly worthwhile. I’d love to start and/or continue that journey. Growth has no final destination, just the journey. It’s up to you what path you’d like to take.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I think one of the most important elements of a first session is being able to get to know each other, as well as building a safe space that you feel comfortable, allowing yourself to be the most genuine and authentic version of yourself. Whether it’s getting right to work or establishing a foundation of trust, that first session can be exactly what you want it to be. Therapy is not about my goals and agenda, it’s about what you were looking to accomplish and how I can support you along that journey.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As a provider, I would say that my greatest strength is the ability to take someone exactly as they are and not form my own opinions and judgments on what could’ve been better or what they could’ve done differently. I have found that I love to blend acceptance, compassion, challenge, confrontation, and exploration as equal partner concepts to the exploration of life. To me the most important people in life or those who are willing to get to know me yet at the same time will not contribute Or standby and be witness too my self-destruction. I think one of the qualities that I can offer is that I can help you with what you need to hear, although it may not always be what you want to hear. I listen to listen, not listen to respond or to tell you what I think is best. I’m here for your needs, not my agenda.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
The individuals that I serve is vast and diverse. From working with anxiety and depression, to treating all levels of care for substance use disorders, to virtual therapy for obsessive and compulsive disorders, exposure treatments like prolonged exposure for trauma and PTSD and various forms of therapy models for family and couples counseling, I don’t believe that I have an ideal individual. The person I want to work with is the person that wants change in their life. My experience, both personally and professionally, has allowed me to take a cognitive and emotional approach that is nonjudgmental, accepting of the individual where they are and as who they are. Even if you’re stuck, that’s okay too. Keep an open mind and let me know how I can best support you.