Therapist in Athens, Ga. and Online Counseling
706-363-0030
Joe Wilson, LPC
I am committed to helping you either in my office or, as many are now doing, using online counseling.
Either way, I hope to provide you with meaningful service helping you achieve your goals in therapy and in life. I will work with you in a way that builds on your strengths and potential as well as encourage you to take your life to the next level. We will enjoy a kind, loving and challenging therapeutic relationship.
1160 South Milledge Ave. Ste 110 Athens, Georgia 30605
1160 South Milledge Ave. Ste 110 Athens, Ga. 30605
I attended Young Harris College in the north Georgia mountains in the early '70's. It was there that I took my first psychology course though I majored primarily in having fun. In 1993, I returned to college after a twenty year break
graduating two years later with a BS from North Georgia College in Dahlonega. During the summer of 1996 I was fortunate to serve an Internship at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Dublin, Georgia working primarily with those veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
For a number of years I worked with the Department of
Juvenile Justice, Community Mental Health and in private practice as a therapist in Macon. This provided extensive experience in helping those who
suffer from depression, anxiety, or trauma issues.
Adolescents with behavioral problems has also been an
area in which I have been active. I will add that I have had the pleasure of working with a number of young people diagnosed with Autism.
Macon has been home since the year the Beatles were
first on The Ed Sullivan Show. I also was lucky enough to travel to China and teach in a university. Four children and thirteen grandchildren have caused me to develop deep roots in Georgia. The Athens area is now home so I can be closer to my loved ones.
I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2000 after receiving my Masters of Science in Psychology from GCSU in 1997. My new office on South Milledge should be convenient to all.
Recently I also started Joe Wilson, LPC Online Counseling for those who can not make it to the office. For information regarding the Online Counseling you can send an email to JoeWilsonLPC@gmail.com or find me on Facebook, Joe Wilson, LPC Therapist in Athens.
Top Ten Reasons To Call A Therapist
There is a not a right or wrong answer here, so let me just suggest a few reasons why you might want to go see a therapist.
1. A general feeling of needing to talk with someone about some various things going on in your life. These things can be serious (“I feel like taking my own life.” To more general, “I have just been feeling off…not sleeping…and wanted to talk with someone about this.”).
2. You are looking for an unbiased, non-judging, caring person to listen to you. In therapy speak, we might refer to this as unconditional positive regard. A lot of people feel like they can’t find this acceptance with friends, family, or their church, so therapy is often a good place to start. Now I’m not saying that all therapists will practice this, but I think really good ones do.
3. Someone in your circle of influence (friends, family, co-workers) notices that there are some things in your life that are concerning to them, or that they feel like you might need someone to talk to about them. So often people end up in therapy due to the suggestion and encouragement of others.
4. Because you want to grow. Therapy is not all about working on issues of depression, anxiety, fear, etc., but can be a great environment for personal growth (spiritual, emotional, physical, psychological). There aren’t many places in your life where you can be in an environment that helps you grow , but a therapist is able to get a different perspective and help foster this growth with their experience, knowledge and tools.
5. You are experiencing some minor or major life transitions. Divorce. Marriage. Pregnancy. Death. College. Career. Etc. These transitions and others often bring out new feelings, challenges, fears, etc. in a person, and it’s helpful to have a guide along that journey.
6. You have no one else to talk to. This could literally mean you can’t think of anyone to talk to, or there isn’t anyone who would really understand what it is you are going through.
7. You are wanting anonymity as you seek help and work through the issue. Therapy operates under very specific ethical guidelines regarding confidentiality, etc., and this may be important to you as you seek help, rather than going to your pastor, family member or friend.
8. You are more specifically able to identify what it is you are struggling with, and you want a professional to help you. This could be depression, anxiety, bi-polar, ADHD, fear, adultery, abuse of any kind, etc.
9. Many of us don’t take the opportunity to explore the deeper meanings in our own life, or to wrestle with key issues of identity. We often live on the surface, and never get beyond the things in life that just make us feel good and comfortable. Seeing a therapist is a great opportunity to really find out who you are, and to be known.
10. You have seen the positive benefits of therapy in the lives of those around you. So you want to give it a try yourself.
11. You might not have any reason, but simply the curiousity of the positive ways it could benefit your life are appealing to you.
12. You are looking for some hope in your life.
Okay, those are just 12 reasons for when I think it would be beneficial for someone to go see a therapist. I’m sure there are more but this is a start.
