individual therapy

Individual Therapy: Nurturing Personal Wellbeing

At Integrative Couples Therapy, our expertise in relationships extends beyond couples. We understand that the relationship you have with yourself is fundamental to all other connections in your life. That's why we offer individual therapy, that focuses on mental health, self-discovery, healing, and positive change.

What is Individual Therapy?

Individual therapy is designed for those seeking to explore their inner world to create a more fulfilling life. Our skilled therapists will help you navigate your emotions and thoughts, explore attachment patterns, and understand behaviors to promote overall wellbeing. We recognize the profound impact of emotions and attachment experiences on an individual's life. Our goal is to facilitate healing and personal growth in these areas, fostering a deeper connection with yourself and others. Many of our individual clients seek us out for support with anxiety, depression, substance use, lifestyle habits, trauma, and relationships. Some are currently in couples therapy with one of our couples therapists, others come to us specifically for individual therapy with a relational lens.

Focus Areas in Individual Therapy

In our individual therapy sessions, we focus on various aspects of your life, including:

  • Relationships: Explore your relationship dynamics with others and yourself.

  • Inner World: Understand how your thoughts and emotions impact your mood, behaviors, and relationships.

  • Family Dynamics: Learn how to create more harmonious family relationships or heal pain arising from your family of origin.

  • Anxiety & Depression: Address symptoms through a relational and holistic approach.

  • Trauma: Bring healing to pain from the past through an attachment based lens.

  • Loss: Grieve the end of relationships, connect with yourself, and attain wellbeing.

  • Separation & Divorce: Be supported throughout the process of life transitions.

  • Parenting: Navigate parenting challenges from an attachment and nervous system lens.

  • Work/Life Harmony: Learn how to experience harmony among work, love, family and personal wellbeing.

  • Attachment: Explore past and current attachment patterns and move toward inner safety and security.

  • Mind/Body Approach: Emphasize the connection among thoughts, emotions, and wellbeing.

Strengthening the Relationship with Yourself

Our therapists understand that nurturing a healthy relationship with yourself is essential for building fulfilling connections with others. Individual therapy may focus on improving self-esteem, self-compassion, and self-acceptance. If you're also participating in couples therapy, this individual work complements the larger relational dynamics. You may also explore early life experiences in an effort to shift patterns in the present.

What to Expect in Therapy

During therapy, your dedicated therapist will listen attentively and guide you through self-exploration. You'll process emotions, explore patterns, and gain clarity on yourself and your relationships. Emotions are invaluable sources of information, signaling your needs, desires, and concerns. We will help you understand the connections among your emotions, thoughts and behaviors promoting self-awareness and personal growth. In addition we utilize methods that create shifts at the nervous system level. Your therapist will equip you with valuable skills and tools that you can apply in your daily life, bridging the gap between therapy sessions and your everyday experiences. Together, we'll work collaboratively to help you achieve your goals for relationships and overall wellbeing.

Getting Started

At Integrative Couples Therapy, we are committed to providing a supportive, understanding environment where you can explore your life and relationships with compassion and depth. Whether you are navigating challenges, seeking to heal pain from the past, struggling with the grips of anxiety, or striving for personal development, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Begin your transformative journey today by reaching out to us. Together, we will work towards unlocking your potential for a more fulfilling and vibrant life. Contact us now to get started on your path to healing and self-discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The majority of our individual clients start therapy during a time in their life that is stressful. Some are experiencing anxiety, depression, or have other concerns about their mental health. Some want to strengthen their romantic relationship, others are ending their relationship and some are single and want to be in a relationship. Many clients want to heal from their past, particularly if they have experienced loss and trauma. Many of our clients want to change habits or let go of behaviors that no longer serve them. Most of our individual clients have multiple areas of their life they want support with including relationships, family, work/business, and mental health. We also work with individuals that are wanting support with their romantic relationship yet their partner is not able to attend couples therapy. 

  • Yes. Marriage and Family Therapists are mental health professionals that are licensed or registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. All of our therapists have Masters Degrees and are Licensed or Registered in the State of California to diagnosis and treat mental health disorders.  In addition, all of our therapists have training beyond their graduate school education in couples therapy.

    Our approach views mental health through a family systems, holistic, and relational lens. We aim to uncover and transform what is driving symptoms and behaviors. In addition, we will aim to collaborate with your psychiatrist or other providers to ensure we are delivering the most effective care possible. If we are not able to provide treatment for the mental health challenges you are facing we will refer you to trusted providers in our community. 

  • There are a few reasons why your therapist may be recommending individual therapy in conjunction with couples therapy. Some individuals discover they want their own confidential space that is separate from couples therapy. Untreated mental health conditions or trauma can interfere with the progress of couples therapy. In some situations, such as with active drug and alcohol dependency, it will be important for the addiction to be addressed before we can proceed to the deeper work of couples therapy. Individual therapy is also recommended when a couple is experiencing emotional or physical abuse or active infidelity. If abuse is present in the relationship, couples therapy is not safe unless the couples therapist is highly trained to work with abuse. If you are in an abusive relationship please contact our care coordinator or schedule an individual therapy appointment.

  • The length of the psychotherapy process varies depending on our client's history, strengths, challenges, and goals. Some clients attend a few sessions while others are in therapy for several years. Many clients prefer to be in therapy throughout their life as needed. Although your therapist will make recommendations on length of treatment, it is always up to the client whether they want to attend or not. Clients will never be pressured or obligated to pay for a set number of sessions. 

  • Generally therapy is most effective when clients attend once per week for a 55 minute session. Your therapist will hold a recurring weekly day/time for you or you can schedule at the end of every session. Over time many clients drop down to less frequent sessions. 

  • Our therapists help clients with the understanding the connection among thoughts, emotions, needs, physiological responses, memories, behaviors, and relationships. Our main focus for individual clients is centered on creating a resilient and compassionate inner world which bolsters mental health and improves relationships. There are many factors that contribute to our mental wellness including environment, relationships, nutrition, substances, sleep, stress, and spirituality and all of this may be explored in therapy. All the therapists at IFT practice what they teach and live a lifestyle that emphasizes holistic health, self care, movement, personal growth, and nature.