Same Sex Couples Counseling of Philadelphia

We help you change dysfunctional patterns and guide you, step by step, in a safe and focused manner, to achieve your goals.

How does psychotherapy help?

Psychotherapy can decrease depression, anxiety, and related symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and nausea and can improve a person's overall health. There is evidence that people who have several sessions of psychotherapy are better off than individuals with untreated emotional difficulties. One study showed that 50 percent of patients improved after eight sessions, while 75 percent improved by the end of six months.

Often people who come to therapy have been suffering for a long time.

They have considered therapy, but felt ashamed that they needed help. Shame is a crippling emotion which interferes with success in career and relationships. Working through shame is a step toward feeling more confident and deriving more pleasure from life. Beginning therapy is a courageous, positive step toward turning repetitive unfulfilling behaviors into a life well lived.

A twenty-eight-year-old man has just been put on probation at work because of inappropriate behavior towards other employees. In addition, he has been getting into more arguments with his wife. Once the contributing factors to the man's increase in aggressive behaviors have been examined, a treatment plan will be designed. He will be helped to evaluate how he coped with and what he learned from similar experiences.

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The therapeutic relationship is a sacred journey toward change.

In an atmosphere of safety and support, we look into your present conflicts and help you move towards a new future--one not driven by old habits and coping strategies. YouÕll develop new skills and problem-solving abilities to last a lifetime.

• We help with:
• Financial IssuesÊ
• Affairs/Infidelity
• Anger & Stress Management
• Mediation
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Divorce & Separation
• Adolescents & ChildrenÊ
• Infertility
• Interethnic/interracial Relationships
• Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender
• Loss & Grief
• Post-Partum Depression
• Parenting,
• Premarital Counseling
• Remarried/Blended Families
• Trauma Recovery
• Depression

Symptoms of Depression

Do you have depression? Do you have five or more of these symptoms during a two-week period, and do they represent a change from the way you normally function?

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• Are you depressed or irritable most of the time, nearly every day?
• Have you lost interest in hobbies, work, sex, or being with friends most of the day, nearly every day?
• Did your weight suddenly change? (weight loss without dieting, gaining more than 5% of body weight in 1 month), or have you experienced a change in appetite?
• Are you having difficulty sleeping? Are you sleeping too much or not enough, nearly every day?
• Are you agitated or restless nearly every day?
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
• Frequent feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions nearly every day
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicide (or a suicide attempt or plan)

Many of our clients improve without medication, but if you wish to consult with a doctor about medication, we provide referrals.

Carol, an attractive woman late 30Õs, is having crying spells. She has insomnia, no appetite, and feelings of hopelessness. She is no longer interested in her book discussion group and has a hard time getting up for work. ÒI feel like IÕm lost in a gigantic black cloud and canÕt find my way out,Ó she says.

A therapist may help Carol explore the reasons for her depression and whether she has a history or pattern of such feelings. Under what circumstances? What was helpful before and what is she doing now in response to her feelings?

Carol will be encouraged to envision a more positive future, to explore whether she is living and acting according to her values, and to reduce the negative thinking that accompanies depression. She will be assisted in problem-solving around any major life changes that may have occurred and helped to grieve if her depression is due to loss.

There are many ways Carol can be helped to come out of her depression. She need not suffer alone.

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Postpartum Depression - Information for Mothers After Childbirth

If you have postpartum depression, you may experience:

• Physiological changes
• Persistent sadness
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Feelings of being overwhelmed
• Sleep and appetite disturbances
• Loss of self-esteem

Postpartum depression is a real emotional disorder that arises in one out of ten or fifteen women after the birth of a child. It can be distinguished from maternal blues, which is mild and lasts only a few weeks. Postpartum depression doesn't "just pass." Usually it lingers and worsens. Enormous emotional shifts and psychological impacts impinge on your brain simultaneously. If you do not have a strong support system at home and have low self-esteem, you are more likely to get postpartum depression. You may feel you're failing at being a mother.Ê You may find yourself unable to participate with joy in your baby's early development. Important early interactions between yourself and your baby may be lost. Infants need animated facial expressions, soothing words, and confident physical holding as their brains make important connections that will affect not only mood, but also health and normal emotional development. It is important to seek help right away. When mood pathways are dysregulatd, the brain can learn and incorporate this altered state. It can require more therapy time because you may have developed maladaptive coping strategies, which are affecting all aspects of your life and your relationships. Waiting long to seek treatment also poses an increased risk of future episodes of depression. Your neural pathways may dysregulate spontaneously, leading to a recurrent depressive condition. Ê

Anxiety

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Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, anxiety and worry about everyday life events, such as health, money, family, work or school. The anxiety dominates the person's thinking and interferes with daily functioning.

LINK TO SITE Ê Ê Stress Management Ê Managing stress is about taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, environment, and the way you deal with problems. The goal is a live well lived. Ê Ê

MARRIAGE AND COUPLES COUNSELING

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Relationship conflicts

. Ê Therapy includes learning communication skills, containing anger and anxiety, and resolving differences. Sometimes one or both members of a couple decide that a relationship needs to end. Therapy can help you explore these issues. Ê Ê Link to marriage counseling site Ê ¥ Pre-marital counseling. Ê Studies show couples that receive pre-marital counseling have far less divorces. ÊLINK to pre-marital counseling site Ê Ê ¥ Parenting/Step-parenting. Whether or not the children are involved in the therapy, we help parents and step-parents deal successfully with the challenges of family life. Family therapy link Ê Ê ¥ Self-Confidence. Negative experiences with family, intimate relationships, friends, career, etc. can erode self-confidence. We help clients chart a course of new choices that can rebuild self-confidence and self-esteem. Ê Ê Ê ¥ Grief/Loss. Therapy can aid the process of integrating a loss, whether it be the death of a friend, family member or pet, a divorce, a layoff or other important losses. Ê ¥ Life-threatening illness. For those facing this kind of illness -- and their loved ones -- therapy can be helpful at a profoundly frightening time. Ê Ê

ADHD

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Jane, a 35-year-old woman, arrived for her first appointment late and crying. She was disheveled, rushed and apologetic. ÒIÕm a mess,Ó she said. ÒI am running out of excuses to explain the wreck IÕve made of my life, and I canÕt figure out whatÕs wrong.Ó

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Jane was suffering from adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

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The three core symptoms of the ADHD adult are: Inattention Hyperactivity Distraction

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We help people with adult ADHD to recognize the specific behaviors that are part of this disorder and to develop skills to compensate and lead a more productive life.

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Shyness

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Social anxiety becomes a problem when it seriously interferes with people's ability to live their lives, according to Jonathon Davidson, MD, professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center's Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Program.

• Do you avoid doing things or speaking to people because of embarrassment?
• Do you avoid activities in which you are the center of attention?
• * Is looking stupid one of your worst fears?
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If you answer yes to at least two of these questions, you can benefit from therapy. Ê Ê

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops as a result of a terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise highly unsafe experience.

PTSD can arise from automobile and other accidents, serving in the military, being in an abusive relationship, sexual harassment in the workplace, etc.

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Symptoms of PTSD

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* recurrent re-experiencing of the trauma (for example, troublesome memories, flashbacks that are usually caused by reminders of the traumatic events, recurring nightmares about the trauma and/or dissociative reliving of the trauma),

* avoidance to the point of having a phobia of places, people, and experiences that remind the sufferer of the trauma and a general numbing of emotional responsiveness, and

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* chronic physical signs of hyperarousal, including sleep problems, trouble concentrating, irritability, anger, poor concentration, blackouts or difficulty remembering things, increased tendency and reaction to being startled, and hypervigilance to threat.

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¥ Job/Career: We help clients with issues of meaning, purpose, and conflict in their jobs and careers.

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TEENAGE ISSUES:

ItÕs tough being a teenager in todayÕs world.

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The temptations and choices are vast. When teens are going through a difficult time, such as family troubles or problems in school, they may need help sorting out their feelings, finding solutions to their problems, or just feeling better.

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Although itÕs perfectly normal for a teenager to pull away from parents, there is still a need for adult guidance. During this time when your teen is challenging your judgment, your beliefs and your rules, youÕll find comfort knowing that a trained professional is helping your child through the confusion that accompanies this time of life.

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Evan and his family moved across town a few months ago, and he transferred to a new high school. He had trouble making friends at the new school and felt like an outsider. In therapy he learned to reach out to other kids by expressing interest in them and sharing his thoughts. Sandi went to therapy a couple of years ago when her parents were getting divorced. Although she no longer goes, the therapy helped her get through difficult times when it felt as if her parents had turned against each other and put her in the middle.Ê

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Psychotherapy can help when a teenager

• * feels stressed, sad, depressed, worried or shy
• * is dealing with Attention Deficit Disorder
• * is coping with a chronic illness, such as diabetes or asthma
• á is dealing with family changes such as separation and divorce
• á has recently experienced a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one,
• * wants to learn how to manage anger
• . is struggling with peer pressure
• needs to build self-confidence
• á has a problem making friends
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GROUP THERAPY

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We Offer Small Groups For Individuals and Couples

Group Therapy is an exciting form of psychotherapy where you have an opportunity, in a safe, supportive environment, to interact with the therapist and other group members. Emotional and relational issues such as trust, intimacy, shyness and self-esteem are shared with others who have similar issues. Identifying with and getting the support of group members helps you to feel more comfortable and secure in relationships outside the group. You may participate in a weekly group or in an every other week group. This is a unique opportunity to learn powerful skills, practice new behaviors, and receive valuable feedback from others. Within a group therapy setting, there is also an opportunity to engage in individual work with the therapist. The process of working through individual issues in the group creates greater awareness of your emotional responses and needs and helps you feel more confident outside the group. Individual therapy within a group setting also acts as a catalyst for others to work on their own issues. As you experience others working through similar issues, you will become aware of possibilities and solutions that you can apply toward your own life. While group therapy can be the only source of treatment, it can also be an adjunct to individual therapy sessions. Take the next step. Call 610-896-3735 and set up a consultation. Our therapists are post-masters with considerable training in individual, couple and family therapy. Confidentiality is an integral part of the therapeutic relationship. We respect and honor your privacy.
Pick up the phone and call 888-242-1720.
Make that important first call. We're here to help you.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Summers, M.A. & Natasha Chang M.S.

Jacqueline Summers, M.A.
Licensed Psychologist

Jacqueline Summers, M.A. has a profound understanding of the world of lesbian and gay couples. With warmth, wisdom, and professional expertise, she helps couples make deeper, more positive emotional connections.

Creating a successful relationship takes time and motivation; it requires learning and refining specific skills, and it takes patience. Like good art, a couple relationship can bring pleasure to the creators and those around them.

Jacqueline Summers helps couples acquire remarkably empowering communication and problem-solving techniques and achieve mature, enduring love. She is a licensed psychologist and is certified in Imago couples therapy. She is also a prize-winning poet.

Natasha Chang, M.S.
Couples Couselor

Natasha S Chang, M.S. helps lesbian and gay couples achieve long-term success in their relationships. She understands the internal struggles and external battles every lesbian and gay couple faces.

Since lesbian and gay couples have few models to guide them, they too often opt for ending the relationship rather than learning to work through its problems. Natasha provides tools for those coping with the inevitable surprises and complications that come with years of being together.

She helps with concerns about identities merging, sex waning, failures in communication, competing career demands, coping with change, illness, and midlife crisis. She also helps couples to amicably separate when one or both can no longer maintain the relationship.