Carley Burton (she/her)

I currently work with several women via the Hope Sparks rehabilitation center. Together, we discuss their lives pre-drug and alcohol addiction, during, and post, and how that has effected them and their overall well-being. I believe that we often rely on drugs and alcohol in order to escape the pain from our current realities, and because we have not learned healthier alternatives to cope. It is important to remind my clients that addiction is not linear, and relapse does not mean failure.

Living with depression can be debilitating and very isolating. While working with clients with depression, I remind my clients they have a 100% success rate of making it through every bad experience they've ever had, and it is possible to overcome depression. I have my clients reframe their focus on things or people they enjoy in life, no matter how big or small. I remind them to take one step at a time, and to gradually build up their energy, hope, and willingness.

Having constant anxiety can be exhausting. Often times we have it because we are thinking and worrying about all the possibilities of what could happen, rather than what is actually in our control. While I am guilty of doing it to, I try to remind my clients to take a step back and focus more on the present and what is in their control, rather than what is not. I teach breathing techniques, and other practices that the client can try on their own to help ground and calm them much quicker.

Art is a huge part of my personal life, and often allows me to express the emotions I'm going through when I cannot find the words. Often times I encourage my clients to tap into their artistic sides while working through anxiety, depression, and psychosis as a way of self-expression and healing. There have been many times when a client and I will do an art project together during session as a way to deescalate and have fun. You do not have to be a professional in order to be expressive.

Building and maintaining relationships is important to me when it comes to working with my clients. I view my counseling approach as being your unbiased, professional friend: someone who you can talk to who will never judge, someone who has your best interest at heart, someone who wants to see you excel in life, while not giving my unsolicited advise or opinions on what you present in session. It is important that I build and maintain trust, and have a welcoming, supportive, environment.

Relationships can be difficult, and no one relationship is perfect. My hopes when working with couples is to provide a space where each person feels seen, heard, and respected in order to present the problems and struggles within their relationship. It is important that I present a neutral position when working with couples, so each client feels supported.