Our Counseling Approaches

Care That Starts With Listening

Every approach described here begins the same way: by listening. A child, teen or adult brings a different history, support system, way of communicating and set of priorities. Before any technique is chosen, a clinician wants to understand what is happening, what matters to you and what you would like to change.

From there, an approach is a framework for the work, not a box to fit into. It gives structure to sessions while leaving room for your pace, your questions and the things that only come up once trust has been built.

Approaches Our Team Members Name

The approaches listed on this page come from the descriptions our clinicians give of their own work. Therapist Tia Davis, MSW, LSW, describes a trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centered approach. Therapist Nicole Reagan, LSW, draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, solution-focused approaches, supportive counseling and strengths-based interventions. You can read their full bios on the Our Team page.

For children and teens, Infinity uses age-appropriate, evidence-based approaches and works collaboratively with parents and caregivers when appropriate, as described on the Child & Adolescent Counseling page.

How Different Approaches Fit Together

Approaches often work side by side. Trauma-informed principles shape how sessions feel, with attention to safety, choice and pace. A strengths-based lens keeps existing abilities and supports in view. CBT can offer practical skills for noticing and shifting unhelpful patterns. Motivational interviewing can help when part of you wants change and part of you is unsure. Solution-focused work keeps attention on goals and small, concrete steps.

You do not need to know any of these terms before you begin. They simply describe some of the ways a counseling conversation can be organized.

• 01Trauma-informed care
• 02Strengths-based counseling
• 03Person-centered counseling
• 04Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• 05Motivational interviewing
• 06Solution-focused counseling

Adapting Care for Individuals, Couples and Families

The same idea can look different depending on who is in the room. In Individual Counseling, the focus is one person’s experience and goals. In couples and family work, attention also goes to the patterns between people and how each person’s needs can be heard. With younger clients, conversations and activities are adapted to age and development.

Questions You Can Ask

It is reasonable to ask how counseling will be structured. In an early conversation, you might ask what approach your clinician expects to use, how progress will be discussed and how goals can change over time. Questions are a welcome part of the process, and you can raise them at any point.