Eric Shiveley

Thanks for reading. In my experience, many people show up for therapy only when things have become almost unbearable. When we're in that state, it can be difficult to think straight, and often the first thing that's needed is a place to take a breath and be heard. You might have heard "just stop worrying about it" or "focus on the positive" so much that you no longer tell people when things get bad. Many people come to points where they can't remember when things felt okay, and they feel separated from others in a room filled with people who seem happy. These things happen, and sometimes we need something or someone just to help us think.

I am trained in treatment of depression, relationship difficulties, family tension, drug addiction, and anxiety, and I firmly believe in the three pillars of person-centered counseling: Empathy, Genuineness, and Unconditional Positive Regard. Before I was a therapist I worked in the arts, education, software, and social services. Of all the training …I've had, I think play therapy and parenting skills have been the most helpful when working with any kind of problem. Feeling alone and like no one gets us is often at the root of sadness, anger, and feelings of hopelessness. And it's usually more complicated than the people closest to us realize. If it were as simple as flipping a switch, we would just flip it. Change - and finding a starting point - can be difficult and strange, but improvement does happen for many people. Sometimes it helps just to know there's always something we can try, and that we're not alone.

I have a BA in Creative Writing from Miami University and an MA in Counselor Education from Adams State University. I have worked with clients of all ages, taught parenting classes, and led relapse prevention groups. I have worked with couples, families, groups, and with people in substance addiction and recovery. I have training in play therapy, EMDR, crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and creativity in counseling. If you're still here, thanks again for reading!