Accepting new clients
About Kevin West
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I graduated from the University of Colorado in Denver in 1995 with a master’s degree in counseling psychology/counseling education. Since then, I have amassed over 30 years of experience seeing clients in a variety of settings. I have worked with high school students on their personal and professional development. At universities, I led workshops for non-traditional (older) students. I have developed teambuilding workshops for companies and provided career counseling for individuals. I have been invited to present personality type workshops to various community groups. I have worked for agencies and in private practice. More recently, I have worked with client’s in their homes, addressing the gamut of personal issues a person can face: depression, anxiety, grief/loss, anger issues, premarital/marital issues, suicide, addictions in the family, low self-esteem, family of origin issues, and others. I am currently licensed in the state of Oklahoma
Early in my education, I was encouraged to develop my own style of counseling, and that is what I have done. I have many different theoretical techniques in my “counseling toolbox”: cognitive/thought oriented, behavioral oriented, past/present/and future oriented. I steer clear of typical “psychobabble,” but I am fond of a good analogy.
I like to use humor, and I believe that we all can laugh at ourselves if we feel secure enough. Knowing that we are loved in spite of (or maybe even because of) our flaws can be quite encouraging. I will accept you, and your issues, because I know I have my share. In fact, I was once told that the difference between a therapist and a client is that a therapist is further along in sorting out their issues.
The counseling setting for me can be similar to the old joke where a man loses his wallet on a dark street. Another man sees the first one searching around under a streetlight and asks if he can be of assistance. The first man explains that he has lost his wallet and would welcome any assistance. The two men comb the area thoroughly, looking everywhere to no avail. Finally the second man says to the first, “Are you sure you lost it here?” To which the first man replies, “No, I lost it down in that dark alley.” The second man says, “Well, Why are we looking here?!” The first man says, “Because the light is better here.”
A good therapist can be a flashlight – helping you explore the darker areas of your life. But, don’t worry, we won’t go until you are ready.
I look forward to searching with you.