Counseling at Wellness First Psychiatric Associates

At Wellness First Psychiatric Associates, we view counseling as a central part of the treatment process. While psychiatric medications can play an important role, meaningful and lasting change most often occurs through the work done in counseling.

Dr. McEwen often reminds patients that a psychiatrist with medications is somewhat like a sports trainer. A trainer can tape an injured ankle and help someone return to the playing field, but it is the coach who works with the athlete over time—addressing strategy, habits, strengths, and limitations. Medications can help stabilize symptoms, but counseling addresses the complexities of a person’s psychological life that are often highly individualized.

For many patients, ideal treatment comes primarily through counseling, with medications serving a supportive role when needed. Counseling provides space to explore patterns of thinking, emotional responses, relationships, and life challenges that contribute to distress or interfere with growth. Through this process, strengths are identified and reinforced, while areas of difficulty are addressed in ways that promote insight, development, and change.

Counseling at Wellness First is provided by experienced therapists who work collaboratively with our psychiatrists to ensure thoughtful, coordinated, and individualized care. Patients come to counseling for a wide range of concerns, including mood and anxiety disorders, life transitions, relationship difficulties, substance use issues, and the emotional impact of medical or psychiatric illness.

For patients addressing substance use concerns, our counselors are familiar with AA and other 12-step principles and integrate this understanding into counseling when it is helpful to the patient’s goals. This allows therapy to build on concepts and language patients may already be working with—such as accountability, acceptance, and personal growth—while remaining grounded in professional, individualized counseling.

Across all areas of treatment, patients working with us will notice the respect our therapists have for them as unique individuals. Our approach to counseling emphasizes collaboration, autonomy, and compassion, with the goal of helping each patient move toward greater understanding, resilience, and well-being.