Welcome! My name is Soni Fitzhugh. I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Maryland. My counseling style is person-centered counseling, and it reflects my values. As a counselor, I am about empowering my clients. Empowerment begins within the therapeutic relationship, in which you the client become an equal partner in the helping and healing process. I want to help people lead healthy and productive lives.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The most empowering intervention is education because it encourages clients to identify their patterns and barriers to wellness. I have become increasingly aware that counselors are not here to give advice or tell clients what to do because it robs them of the opportunity to figure it out for themselves. I like to give clients the fighting chance they need to thrive in life. I like working with adults and teens. My mission is to create, nurture, and allow a climate of growth, connection, and potential to blossom in my clients.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I consider myself a person-centered counselor. A person-centered counseling session is open, incorporates a lack of structure, and has a non-directive approach. During my sessions, clients do most of the talking. In addition, they experience what is called unconditional positive regard, or nonjudgment, empathetic understanding, and genuineness. I agree with Carl Rogers the American psychologist, who created person-centered therapy. He believed in the idea that each of us has the power to find the best solutions for ourselves and the ability to make correct changes in our lives. The nature of person-centered therapy is intended to promote self-discovery, and self-acceptance and provides a path to positive growth and healing.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My strength as a person-centered counselor depends on client motivation and those that want change. My work is better suited for clients who prefer the flexibility and freedom to discuss their issues in a supportive way. The person-centered approach benefits people who desire self-esteem, authenticity, the ability to build better relationships, and confidence in their decisions. I specialize in teaching coping skills to clients with anxiety, depression, and women's issues. My favorite modality is called EFT which stands for the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or tapping. So, if you would like to try a new modality? Why not try EFT because it is a powerful holistic healing technique based on research showing that our emotional stress contributes greatly to disease.