Wintergarden Counseling Services
About
My experience in over 20 years of counseling has been mostly doing work with male and female adult patients of various ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Work has also been done helping patients deal with problems-in-living such as divorce, grief, or relationship problems. Other patients have been helped to cope with a variety of mental disorders, including major depression and anxiety. As a therapist trained in the use of EMDR, help has been provided to sufferers of PTSD, which can result from, among other things, childhood trauma, major vehicle accidents, or domestic violence. Help for veterans may include helping veterans with military-to-civilian life adjustment, as well as using the EMDR strategies to help them cope with service-related PTSD. As anger resolution therapist, this LPC helps patients considered rageaholics or person with serious anger control problems. This therapist also completed graduate-level work and extensive training and experience for helping persons dependent on drugs or alcohol, as well as individuals with dual diagnoses (diagnosis at least one mental disorder, plus a drug or alcohol-related disorder). Help is also provided for co-persons in relationships with individuals who suffer from addictions. Training and experience includes help for changing the criminal mentality common among incarcerated male and female inmates and others on probation. The LPC's experience also includes successful teaching and counseling in Texas public schools, as well as work as instructor of Sociology for Southwest Texas Jr. College, and as instructor of Educational Psychology for Sul Ross Univetsity, at the Eagle Pass, Texas campus.
It's always a pleasure to see patients enjoy their lives more that before they began their counseling programs. There's nothing like seeing them exhibit more self-confidence and talk about how they are decreasing or eliminating their fear, anxiety, or their serious depression. It's great to see patients doing things they say they "couldn't get myself to do" before. It's good to hear patients talk about how they have a better understanding of their problems, but how they now see more options. It is rewarding to hear patients discuss those things they are doing to improve the important relaionships in their lives, and how relieved they are to be able to let go of difficult relationships or habits that simply don't help. It is refreshing to see patients get more of what they really want out of life, and it's a relief when one sees them express in their own words how they feel much better about themselves more of the time.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The LPC will explain the counseling process to the patient, and how the LPC can and cannot help. The counselor will explain what is expected of the patient during treatment, and fees are agreed upon by both. If the client is agreeable, he or she will sign a Consent for Treatment Services. The counselor and the client will agree on fees for services, a time and date is set for the initial assessment.
After the initial behavior health assessment is complete, a diagnosis is assigned, and the counselor and client agree on the problem(s) to be addressed. Together, the counselor and client will then complete a Treatment Plan. This plan will include the client's goal(s) and objectives, the frequency of sessions, and the expected duration of treatment.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
M.Ed. with Major in Counseling
Trainings in:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Reality Therapy
Moral Reconation Therapy
Substance Use Disorders
Motivation Enhancement Therapy
EMDR: Eye Movement Desenzitation & Reproccessing
How did you get started in this business?
After initial licensure as an LPC (5/11/1998), I opened Wintergarden Counseling Services in order to offer services to help meet area mental health needs in Zavala County and surrounding, where there we did not have any licensed mental health professionals. My first contract was a part-time job with the local women's crisis center, plus another agreement with the Crystal City Detention Center, a private business just outside Crystal City.
What types of customers have you worked with?
Adults: White, Black, & Hispanic mental health patients; teachers, border patrolmen, other working class patients. Problems included major depression, anxiety, anger, and substance use disorders.
Students: mainly junior high and high school students to address truancy, relationship problems, some drug use.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Just before Covid-19, I attended the San Antonio Golden Gloves tourmament at one of my grandkid's request. I enjoyed it because the two kids we took had fun. They were surprised but thoroughly enjoyed it, so I enjoyed it.
I also enjoy watching the Spurs basketball games (like once a year) when the Suns are in town.
More than anything, I enjoy the area 5 and 10K fun-runs, but Covid is keeping us inside too much.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Since we don't really give advice, I would likely suggest 'considerations' to weigh and consider. Depending on the patient's problem, severity, and income, I would nevertheless ask a few questions assess what the potential counselee might be open to. Some people will not accept a psychologist or psychiatrist 'at this point.' Others may not be able to afford one.
Generally, I might gently guide to what would at least open to the door to participating in counseling for the patient.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
Customers do well to think about:
1. the long-term importance of their problems,
2. their share of responsibility in resolving matters,
3. about resolving matters rather than 'solving' a problem,
4. about the consequences of continuing life as is, and
5. the benefits of changing some things in their lives.
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