It’s great news that you’re here! It takes a lot of courage to reach out and ask for help, especially since so many of us think that we “should be able” to take care of what’s bothering us on our own. Whether you are seeking counseling to address a specific situation or you just want to take stock of your life in general, you are acknowledging that you would like things to be different. For change to happen, well, things need to change. What we often don’t realize is that changing requires taking action, and that in of itself is a skill to be learned and practiced. My name is Jes Conway and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 19 years of experience working with individuals, families and couples in a wide range of settings. I really am excited to get to know you and to see how I might be of service. You and I both have knowledge to bring to our work together, for you are the expert on your own life and experiences, and I have some skills to teach and methods to help you find the ways to practice these that best suit your personality and preferences. A major theme in much of my work is teaching clients how to capitalize on difficult moments, thoughts and feelings rather than attempting to push them away. By learning to take a peek at these unpleasant experiences, we can begin to realize that they are very useful in helping to identify some of the thought and behavior patterns that have led to our frustrations and dissatisfaction. Of particular interest to me is exploring with clients how alcohol/substance use is affecting their lives. I find that some of my most rewarding work is with people who suspect or know that they are having difficulty due to powerlessness over substances. I utilize a non-judgmental and curious approach and truly am interested in helping others discover what substances are doing for them, so that we can find alternate ways to achieve the same results. If abstinence or recovery is already your goal, it’s helpful to know that outpatient counseling is a wonderful compliment to your chosen recovery program. In addition, I enjoy working with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, lack of purpose or meaning, low self-esteem/ self-worth, life transitions/feeling “stuck,” and relationship issues. I am also a strong proponent of communication and assertiveness training; I believe that it’s essential to affirm and validate one another’s experiences, regardless of whether we agree or disagree. I look forward to meeting and working with you. Take care until then.