Spencer Guthrie, MA, LPC

Hi There! The decision to start counseling can often be a difficult one to make. Oftentimes we feel that if we can’t manage things on our own, then there is something wrong with us. That we are somehow broken or incapable. We might feel ashamed of our struggles and bury them deep down inside of us, thinking that if others can’t see them, maybe we won’t feel them. The reality is that by burying these things inside of us, we are actually creating immense strain on our minds, bodies, and souls. In an age where social media often shows the highlights of people’s lives, we might feel like our own experience isn’t good enough. I’m here to let you know that your pains, fears, and the things you keep secret are all part of a normal human experience. Being human means that you will experience difficulty and pain. Did you know that nearly all therapists have also received or currently receive counseling for themselves (including myself)? Sometimes it’s just nice to have someone there to objectively look at your life and provide you with a new perspective or affirm your experience. I firmly believe that everyone has the power within themselves to create the lives that they want to live. My job is to help you figure out exactly what that looks like, how to get past any obstacles in your way, and then to watch you thrive living a healthy and fulfilling life! What Does Therapy With Me Look Like? You can expect a warm and nonjudgmental approach to counseling. It’s important to me to tailor my counseling to each individual client based on their specific needs. I pull from several different counseling approaches in order to best help you with the goals that are most important to you. I trust that you are the professional in your own life. You know yourself much better than I ever could. If something isn’t working, I also want you to let me know! I’ll provide you with tools and you can choose which ones work best for you. I have diverse experience working in several different counseling environments. I have worked with both survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence as well as working with inmates at a jail. I spent the last couple of years working at a private practice (mostly with teens and young adults) before deciding to open my own practice. I also spent 18 years as a club and college gymnast and love to work with athletes who need help with their mental performance. Of all of the varying experience I’ve gained as a counselor, there are a few themes that have come up consistently in my work: Helping people uncover who they are and what they want in life Helping clients identify healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns in all relationships (familial, friendships, and romantic relationships) Connecting past hurts with current symptoms. Processing through these hurts to open up any blockages keeping someone from reaching their healthiest/happiest self Integrating mind, body, heart, and soul for optimal health and functioning Identifying passions and setting concrete steps to achieve goals Services: I treat individuals age 12 and older. Sessions are 50 minutes. On the first appointment, we will evaluate how often we should work together. I offer a free 15-minute consultation for us to get to know each other and to figure out if we might be a good fit. I accept self-pay (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express), including your health savings account. At this time I do not accept any insurance, but may provide you with a superbill to turn into your insurance for reimbursement. If you would like some more information on billing or payment, feel free to reach out and I’d be more than happy to answer any questions! I look forward to the opportunity to help you achieve your goals and grow to become the person you aspire to be!