Are you considering counseling but feel uncertain about the process or where to start? These
uncertainties are entirely normal when you’re embarking on the path to enhanced mental health.
Today, I’m here to guide you, providing an insight into the transformative process awaiting you.
Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Puglisi Counseling offers in-person and telehealth/virtual
counseling and psychotherapy sessions. When someone starts therapy, there are several steps to
the process that we take:
The Initial Step: Intake
The Intake is the first connection point between you and your therapist. In this meeting, we get to
understand your unique story. You share your personal history, current struggles, and what
specifically has nudged you towards seeking professional mental health support. This vital
conversation sets the tone for our therapeutic relationship and provides a roadmap to navigate
your wellness journey.
The Direction: Goal Setting
Every journey needs a destination. Our counseling services are no different. They require a clear
direction – objectives that you wish to achieve. Are you striving to manage anxiety better? Is it a
past trauma you want to work through, or do you want to enhance your relationships? Together,
we’ll identify these goals, crafting a tailored action plan to guide your progress.
The Approach: Choosing the Right Method
At Puglisi Counseling, our mental health services begin with a Person-Centered Approach. We
believe in your uniqueness, and your therapeutic process should reflect that. We emphasize your
self-worth, value your potential for growth, and put you, the client, at the center of your journey.
Beyond the Person-Centered Approach, we use several evidence-based intervention methods:
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT is a therapeutic method specially designed for
individuals struggling with self-destructive behaviors, such as self-harm, substance abuse, or
severe emotional dysregulation. It merges cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotional
regulation and reality-testing with concepts of mindfulness and acceptance. This dual approach
helps you accept your experiences while also learning to make positive changes in your life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT operates on the premise that our thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. Negative thought patterns can lead to self-destructive
behaviors and beliefs. This goal-oriented therapeutic approach helps you identify and challenge
these thought patterns, leading to a change in your behavior and overall mood. It’s particularly
useful for managing depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Used by trauma therapists,
EMDR is a distinct method that has proven effective for people recovering from trauma or other
distressing life experiences. This therapy involves recalling distressing events while receiving
bilateral sensory input, such as side-to-side eye movements or hand tapping. Over time, the
traumatic event begins to lose its emotional intensity, making it less distressing and more
manageable.
The choice of method is highly individual. Together, we’ll discuss and select an approach that
ensures your comfort and confidence.
Embarking on this transformative journey can present challenges, but it also opens the door to
discoveries and self-awareness. It’s okay not to be okay, and seeking help is a sign of strength,
not weakness.
No matter where you’re located in Pennsylvania, it’s never too late to start your journey. At
Puglisi Counseling, we walk this path with you, offering professional guidance every step of the
way. Ready to begin or have more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
