Most people don’t come to counseling because something dramatic just happened. In my experience practicing as a licensed mental health professional for more than ten years, the people I meet are usually responding to something quieter and more persistent. The first few minutes of a session often sound simple—stress at work, tension at home, trouble sleeping—but as the conversation unfolds, familiar patterns begin to surface, ones I’ve seen repeatedly through my work in counseling in Glens Falls. What seems manageable on the outside often feels far heavier once someone finally slows down enough to speak honestly.
Glens Falls has a strong sense of self-reliance, and that shows up clearly in the counseling room. I often work with people who are used to handling things on their own and minimizing their struggles because others “have it worse.” I remember one client who insisted they were just tired, nothing more. Over time, it became clear they had been carrying anxiety and emotional fatigue for years, pushing through because that’s what they’d always done. Counseling didn’t change who they were; it helped them stop ignoring the signals their body and mind had been sending all along.
A common mistake I see is expecting counseling to provide immediate answers. People often arrive wanting to know what decision to make or how to stop feeling overwhelmed as quickly as possible. I understand that urge. Early in my career, I felt pressure to help people resolve things fast. With experience, I’ve learned that lasting change usually starts with understanding patterns—how stress is handled, how emotions are avoided, and why the same situations keep producing the same reactions. Once those patterns are visible, clarity tends to follow more naturally.
Another misconception is that counseling is mostly about revisiting the past in detail. While earlier experiences matter, much of my work focuses on the present—how stress shows up day to day, how conflict is managed or avoided, and how people push themselves past exhaustion without realizing it. I’ve seen meaningful progress when clients start noticing these everyday responses instead of searching for a single explanation that ties everything together.
Working in this area has also shown me how much environment influences mental health. Seasonal changes, smaller social circles, and the expectation to stay strong can quietly shape how people cope. I often notice predictable times of year when low mood or anxiety increases, and helping clients recognize those cycles can reduce a great deal of self-blame. Context helps people understand that their struggles aren’t personal failures.
What keeps me grounded in this work is watching small, steady shifts take place. It’s the client who pauses before reacting, or the one who finally allows themselves to rest without guilt. Counseling isn’t about fixing someone who’s broken. It’s about helping people understand themselves well enough to stop repeating the same internal struggles. That understanding develops gradually, and in my experience, that’s what allows real change to last.