Counseling Approaches We Use
Tailored Support for Your Unique Journey
At Gentle Empathy Counseling in Buford, GA, we understand that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why our licensed therapists draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches so you get the care that best fits who you are, where you’ve been, and where you want to go.
Below are some of the counseling methods we may integrate into your therapy process:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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"Accept what is. Commit to what matters."
ACT blends mindfulness with behavior change. Rather than struggling to eliminate difficult thoughts, ACT helps you build psychological flexibility by learning to accept what you cannot control while committing to actions that reflect your deepest values.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
"Change your thoughts, change your life."
CBT is one of the most researched therapies, focusing on the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It helps you identify distorted thinking patterns and replace them with healthier, more balanced ways of seeing yourself and the world.
"Understanding beneath the surface."
Depth counseling looks beyond symptoms to explore the root causes of emotional distress such as early life experiences, inner conflicts, and unconscious beliefs. This introspective approach fosters insight, emotional release, and long-term healing.
(Client-Centered Therapy)
"You are the expert on you."
Developed by Carl Rogers, this non-directive therapy offers a warm, accepting space where you’re free to explore your thoughts and emotions. Your therapist’s role is to provide empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard to help you find your own answers.
"Exploring the past to understand the present."
This approach delves into unconscious patterns and unresolved conflicts from your past that may still influence your current behavior, relationships, and emotions. It’s helpful for long-standing issues and developing deep self-understanding.
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Interpersonal Counseling (IPT)
"Healing through connection."
IPT focuses on the ways your relationships affect your mental health. Whether you’re navigating loss, conflict, or social transitions, this therapy helps you strengthen communication skills and build more supportive relationships.
"Making meaning in the face of life’s big questions."
This approach helps you explore your values, purpose, freedom, and mortality. It supports people facing major transitions, crises of meaning, or questions of identity, guiding them toward a more authentic, values-aligned life.
"Be here now."
Mindfulness-based therapies encourage nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. Techniques may include breathwork, guided meditation, or mindful movement. These practices reduce stress and improve emotional regulation, helping you stay grounded in the here and now.
"Focus on what you can control."
Rooted in Choice Theory, this approach encourages personal responsibility and empowers you to make choices that align with your needs and values. Rather than dwelling on the past, Reality Therapy focuses on present behaviors and how they affect your well-being.
"Face your fears—step by step."
Primarily used for phobias, anxiety, and trauma, Exposure Therapy gently and gradually helps you confront the things you fear in a safe, controlled way. Over time, your emotional responses become less intense, and your confidence grows.
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"You are not your problem."
Narrative Therapy separates you from the challenges you’re facing. You’ll be invited to tell—and retell—your story in a way that emphasizes resilience, values, and agency. This helps shift identity from “what happened to me” to “how I responded with courage.”
💬 Let’s Find the Approach That Fits You
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At Gentle Empathy Counseling, our therapists are trained in a wide range of techniques but more importantly, we focus on you as a whole person. We listen closely, adjust thoughtfully, and walk with you step-by-step on your unique healing path.
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📞 Interested in learning more?
We invite you to reach out for a free consultation. Together, we’ll find the approach or blend of approaches
that feels right for you.