ACS Mental Health Counseling, PLLC
Adam C Schwartz, LMHC
Owner and Clinician
Life can be incredibly difficult and even tragic at times. Abrupt transitions; mental and physical illness; even a simple lack of direction can all constitute overwhelming obstacles. We often find ourselves needing an outside perspective and a supportive environment to sort through our jumbled thoughts and emotions. Mental Health Counseling can provide this. Since 2016, I have been effectively treating anxiety, panic, OCD, and men's issues. More recently, I've expanded my clinical focus to include career concerns, relationship coaching, and social skills training.
I offer a unique clinical perspective heavily based in the philosophies of Stoicism, Existentialism, and Mindfulness. By combining these wisdom traditions, the insights of the Social Sciences, and the anxiety reducing benefits of EMDR we will build a plan to help you clarify your goals, gain personal knowledge, and build emotional resilience.
I so look forward to working with you and to being a part of your journey. With knowledge, empathy, and encouragement we can all thrive. Reach out today and we will get you scheduled to assess your needs and make a plan of action to help you actualize your amazing potential.
Our Clinical Approaches
1. Goal Setting, Values Clarification, and Problem-Solving- Direction is so very important in life and a direction that is in alignment with your personality, values, and talents is essential for happiness. We will help you to clarify what is important to you and how you might set and obtain the goals that will allow you to engage in meaningful, value-aligned behavior. Utilizing structured techniques for goal-setting and problem-solving will help you to actualize your Existential freedom and find increased satisfaction.
2. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)- Many difficult things befall the average person during their life. These difficulties cement modes of thought and behavior that are often unsatisfactory. This advanced methodology is utilized to reduce the harmful emotional aftermath of both recent and historical traumas and adverse life events. It is an evidence-based intervention that has been shown to reduce negative emotions and maladaptive behaviors specific to a wide variety of mental health disorders.
3. Interpersonal Effectiveness and Social Skills- Many times we find ourselves in relationship patterns that are decidedly suboptimal. Whether this be a series of bad relationships, struggles with assertiveness, or difficulty connecting with new friends. Analyzing these patterns, gaining new knowledge, and experimenting with novel approaches can help break these patterns and lead to more fulfilling social connections.
4. Philosophical Wisdom- With a deep academic background in the wisdom traditions of Existentialism, Stoicism, Mindfulness, Epistemology, and Enlightenment Philosophy we bring many useful insights and heuristics for living a well-ordered and gratifying life. The great literary works that were produced by these traditions provide wisdom and orienting principles for self-actualization.
5. Self-Understanding- We will help you to better understand the five-factor model of personality and how this is relevant to your current struggles and clinical goals. Understanding your temperament and how it interacts with the temperaments of others can help to normalize many intrapersonal/interpersonal struggles and provide insights as to how these issues might be ameliorated. Additionally, understanding the human psyche in terms of Evolutionary Psychology can help to demystify the cognitive tendencies that many of us find so distressing.
6. Behavioral Wellness- We will develop a plan to help you optimize your mind through proven behavioral wellness practices. We'll work with you to develop habits like exercise and improved nutrition (in consultation with your medical provider), meditation, journaling, improved sleep hygiene, new meaningful hobbies, and increasing social interaction. These approaches help to promote neurotransmitters which increase focus and energy while decreasing anxiety and depression. Each plan is individualized to help you become the best, most productive version of yourself.