Northwest Counseling Associates

Counseling and Psychotherapy services are provided for individuals, couples, groups and families.  Counseling and Psychotherapy involve the application of mental health, psychological, or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systematic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology (ACA, 1997).

Our therapists are licensed therapists in the State of Arkansas. Each therapist works from a unique clinical perspective and have diverse training backgrounds.

The Sex Therapy process is very similar to that experienced with other mental health practitioners.  The Sex Therapist will meet with the person as an individual or with a couple in an office setting where an extensive history of the concerns will be taken.  The Sex Therapist will note both the psychological and the physical components and will establish one or more diagnoses.  After this, a treatment plan will be proposed, usually with your involvement in its development.  In some instances, the Sex Therapist may work closely with the person’s physician, nurse, or other therapist or counselor to establish causes and remedies for the problems.

Depending on the diagnosis, the Sex Therapist will educate the person or couple about the issue and about options for change.  This educational process may occur through suggested reading material, through watching educational audio-visual materials, through discussion with the therapist, through attending workshops, or all of these therapy processes.  Sometimes having more information will allow the problem to resolve.  Sometimes more specific or intensive therapy will be needed.

If more specific therapy is needed, the Sex Therapist may suggest a regular schedule of office appointments.  Often, homework exercises to be practiced individually or as a couple in the privacy of one’s home between office appointments will be suggested.  The homework may be as general as communication exercises or as specific as actual sexual experiences, depending on the progress in therapy and the person’s level of comfort with accepting direction.

In no instances will a Sex Therapist engage in any kind of sexual activity with a therapy patient/client, whether in the office or in any location.  To do so is a breach of ethics, and in some states and provinces is a crime. 

-American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists

Psychological testing services are available for assessing cognitive and emotional functioning, including achievement and ability, personality, and neurological functioning.

Achievement, ability, and intelligence tests may be used to aid in school placement, to determine the presence of a learning disability or delay, to identify giftedness, or to track intellectual development.

Personality tests are used to clarify diagnosis and in determining personality strengths and weaknesses. Assessing and understanding the personality may your therapist in enhancing the therapeutic relationship.

Neuropsychological tests are used to assess for level of functioning and identify levels of mental impairment. However, they are typically used for those with a traumatic brain injury, though some measures may be used to screen children for developmental delays or learning disabilities.

Our associates are scholars and practitioners that have presented on a variety of mental health and educational topics at state, national and international conferences. We remain on the forefront of clinical practice and current research. We can provide custom trainings for individuals, groups, and organizations on a variety of topics. Seminars may range from one hour long presentations to day long workshops. 

Consultation/Trainings Available:

• Child and Adolescent Sexual Abusers
• Brief Motivational Interviewing
• Self Injurious Behaviors
• Compulsivity and the Internet
• Cinematherapy
• Existential Therapy
• Reducing Resistance in Therapy
• Bullying
• Spirituality
  

We provide psychosexual evaluations for children and adolescents in cases of sexual acting out. Our evaluations are completed confidentially and follow the most current scientific advances in assessment and evaluation. Expert testimony may also be provided. Our evaluating associate maintains the highest credentials and training in psychosexual assessment, and is recognized as an expert in the field.