In Person Therapists in Salamanca, NY

Hello and Welcome! My name is Laura Widger, owner of Inner Peace and Strength in Ellicottville, NY. I am humbled and honored to have you click and browse my profile! With my therapeutic lens, specialty, and expertise being trauma healing, the name of my private practice was created with intention. My personal drive, motivation, and mission is to provide a safe and healing environment where clients can heal from the hardships, pain, and traumas of the past. I truly believe inner peace and strength is obtainable and can be a way of living. My job is to help, assist, and support the healing process and journey of trauma recovery.

Yvonne Woods LCSW-R My approach to therapy is in utilizing my skills as a therapist to assist individuals with goal setting and accomplishing these goals. I utilize the model of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to assist clients with understanding the underlying causes of their stress and effective ways of handing them. I approach my sessions by allowing my clients to define their reasons for seeking out therapy and to involve them in the process of attaining a favorable outcome. My focus areas of counseling are Anxiety. Stress. Mood disorders. Depression. I work with individuals. Couples. The elderly.

Therapy is the gentle, intricate process of restoring parts of yourself that you are struggling with. While we do not get to choose how our life experiences or suffering affects us, we have the power to overcome and grow - even when we least expect it. If you have been struggling to feel like yourself and perhaps identify with hopelessness, anxiousness and preferring to isolate, there is a way through these difficult symptoms. I offer interventions to teens, adults and families seeking guidance to improve emotional, mental and behavioral aspects of their lives.

Do you feel like you want to make some changes in your life but just don't know where to begin. You are certainly not alone to feel overwhelmed, stressed, sad and hopeless or lost. My approach is simple, direct, and focuses on trying to help you reduce conflicts and make you feel more secure with your decisions which ultimately helps improve your happiness and peace in life. Clients say they appreciate my warm and accepting approach and my diverse background. I believe therapy is a powerful experience involving trust which I take very seriously. I enjoy working with adolescents, families, couples, and individuals.

I’m deeply committed to supporting the well-being of all my clients. I work with children, adolescents, young adults, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and school/college related issues, such as relationships, self image/concept, and life transitions. I use a culturally informed, client-centered perspective when working with people to honor the way in which individuals' unique experiences have shaped them. I aim to provide a safe and genuine environment, where thoughts and concerns can be discussed confidentially. Please note, I do not take insurance.

Chris received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University. He is an experienced psychotherapist in both inpatient and outpatient settings. His approach to therapy is client-centered and integrates psychodynamic psychotherapy, Bowen family systems therapy, CBT, and mindfulness skills as appropriate, uniquely tailored to each client. He believes that each person is capable of tapping into their strengths to live a life they find meaningful.

*Evening Hours* Life is hard, and sometimes you just need someone to walk beside you to offer support and encouragement while you figure things out. There is no problem too big that we can’t sort out together. I am here to help. I have devoted my counseling career helping individuals and families find strength and hope in times of trouble despite the many obstacles they face.

Welcome! I have worked as a School Counselor for the past 9 years and have my Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling. I work primarily with kids, adolescents and their families a few evenings after school in a private practice setting in East Rochester. I provide individual and family counseling services to address a variety of needs and concerns, including challenges associated with ADHD, anxiety, depression and other co-occurring disorders.

I work to foster wellness and growth in each individual to allow them to live the life they have chosen as fully as possible. I believe that the individual in counseling is the expert in their life and my role is to help support and guide them to make decisions, make positive changes, increase their coping skills and improve their emotional wellness and quality of life. I have experience working with individuals who have complex needs and challenges and work to utilize their strengths and resources to meet their goals.

You are the expert on your own life. I want to help you increase your confidence in that and expand your sense of empowerment in addressing your emotional, physical, spiritual, philosophical, and social needs. I recognize the importance of acknowledging the past and finding ways to feel more alive in the present.

We all encounter personal challenges that threaten our sense of well-being and joy. It might be family and relationship tensions, marriage or parenting, or perhaps issues of anxiety or depression. Whatever the need, don't face it alone. Why not reach out and connect with someone who will come alongside you to provide the encouragement and support you need to move forward? You can feel better! Things can change! There is hope! Together we can focus on you gaining a greater measure of emotional, relational, and if faith is important to you, spiritual health. You've shown courage in coming this far! Keep moving forward.

We all face different challenges and obstacles in our lives - stress, separation, divorce, health, relationship, death, financial, problems on the job and at school, childhood sexual abuse, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance and many others. We feel that we are strong enough to handle things, yet we can't. Life no longer feels worthwhile. Learn new ways to effectively deal with the challenges in your life that can give you back something priceless - the ability to enjoy your life.

The struggles of daily life can get in the way of what truly matters, relationships with the people you love most. With the right approach, we can get you back on track. I’m trained to work with conflict, poor communication, lack of intimacy, resentment, effective parenting strategies and more.

“During our time together, you can expect to feel safe, heard and understood as we work together to seek growth and positive change. Whether this is restoring healthy and meaningful relationships with yourself and others, or building self-discovery and awareness, we will work together to discover the purpose of what your heart is calling for. Whether you are looking for solution-focused methods with manageable action plans and supports or need more time to truly dive into your experiences and process, I can offer you an intuitive space for processing, personalized to fit your unique needs.”

Should I stay or should I go? Sometimes stress gets in the way of the life we planned. Getting stuck is never fun...whether it is you, your partner, your children or your job. We become anxious about what to do next because we fear making a mistake. We know that we have to do something because doing nothing makes it worse, not better! Sometimes we simply need some guidance in how to move forward...sometimes help in letting go. I have been helping struggling couples, individuals and families for 30 years. Let me help you.

My goal in working with people in psychotherapy is to help them understand themselves and make sense of what is happening within themselves and in their lives. My focus is on helping people enrich their lives and on exploring the various barriers to a sense of vitality. I have a specific interest in working with therapists and therapists-in-training in psychotherapy.

Sherpa is the name for the person in Nepal who carries your baggage when you are climbing up a high mountain. That image fits with my vision of therapy or counseling. I see myself as your servant. I enjoy helping people carry the baggage you bring on the trip. The usefulness of what we do together is dependent on the quality of the relationship we can develop. Do you think that I can help you carry your baggage until you get back on the trail or are high enough on the mountain to see where you want to go?