Counseling Philosophy
Safe, respected, valued, and understood – these are the emotions that clients experience when they feel connected with their counselor. These emotions, which can be thought of as basic “principles of care,” also serve as the bedrock for the therapeutic alliance. Upholding these principles is my priority. Doing so allows my clients to take brave steps into the unknown, to explore terrain that can be full of fears and frustrations, to formulate solutions where none could originally be conceived. Together, we map this landscape and learn from its features – until the time my clients feel ready to continue the journey on their own.
Counseling Orientation
While worries and challenges can sometimes seem specific and/or localized, we function as whole beings. We possess a heart, a brain, a spirit or soul, and a body. For growth to occur, I believe that we need to attend to all the parts of our being so that we can understand how difficulties are manifesting – and how they can most effectively be addressed. To that end, I draw on a variety of counseling approaches including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology, and Person-Centered Therapy.
Areas of Specialty
I work with clients from a broad range of backgrounds. Together we have confronted challenges that include anxiety, depression, academic and workplace struggles, major life changes, family conflict, and self-esteem and confidence issues. My clients include children ages 10 and up, adolescents, and adults of all ages.
Qualifications
I am a Limited Licensed Counselor (LLC), with a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wayne State University. Prior to beginning my graduate studies at WSU, I worked as a high school English teacher for fifteen years.
Office Location: Brian holds in-person appointments out of our Rochester office as well as telehealth appointments.
Email brianb@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment directly with Brian.
