Deborah Basedow, LMHC, NCC

My Philosophy

My philosophy in counseling is that everyone deserves good mental health. I believe that people have the strength and the power to solve problems and change their lives; what they need is to believe in themselves and their abilities and not to fear change. The journey we encounter is hard; there are often problems and disappointments that occur along the way. How we deal with these issues and problems is to develop healthy coping strategies, ways in which we deal and handle life stressors. Sometimes these strategies are effective and at other times they are not. When old coping strategies are no longer effective, then it is time to develop healthier ones that make life better.

I believe that therapy is a process that allows effective healing and change to occur in order to become a whole and healthier person. Therapy, however, is not magic. It requires commitment and work. As a therapist, I strive to understand goals, identify barriers and work together in order to make effective and lasting change, and be able to make better decisions. It is important that we realize that everyone has some good in them - this is the reason why counseling even exists. Counselors help clients grow and reach a fuller potential. If we did not believe that people can and do change, then our field would be, at the least, useless and maybe even nonexistent. It is only by establishing a trusting, positive, non-judgemental climate that a client will begin to feel the safety issues that Maslow discussed. We need to be able to provide the climate for clients to be able to share the deeper parts of themselves that they ordinarily try to numb by destructive actions, such as addictions. What I want you to walk away with after reading this is that our first impressions should not be our lasting impressions. Sometimes it takes some time to move beyond our initial thoughts about someone and find their intrinsic worth and positive characteristics. Everyone is unique and different and has some potential for growth, including each of us.

Background

Throughout my life I have been helping others and have had the pleasure of working with many different people in a variety of settings. I was once a Flight Nurse in the Air Force and when I left military service began counseling in 1987; and began private practice in 2006. I also hold certifications as a Forensic Interviewer, a Dependency Mediator, and have my National Counselor Certification. I am currently completing my Ph.D in Educational Psychology.

Clients

I enjoy working with teenagers, adults, families, and special interest groups such as women’s issues, trauma issues and Personality disorders. I welcome the opportunity to work with people as they go through life’s journey.