Michelle Piro, MFT

Whether it’s your current relationship, a past relationship or concerns or fears about future relationships, relationship problems are one of the most common reasons clients seek a counselor. Relationships can bring the greatest joy, and unfortunately the greatest sorrow.

Through counseling, we can get to the root of your struggles and work to heal them. Your relationships can be healthier and happier.

If your current relationship is in trouble, couples therapy may help save your relationship. We’ll find a way to improve the quality of time you spend with your spouse, given the pressures of day-to-day life. If your partner won’t agree to marriage counseling, you can still benefit from attending therapy yourself.

If you are single, you can benefit by looking at how you can be successful in future relationships and resolve any issues from past experiences that may be getting in the way of having the kind of relationship that you want.

Counseling for parents

If your teenager or pre-teen child is experiencing problems it can cause a great deal of stress. It’s not easy being a parent. It’s frustrating when your child is having difficulties and you can’t seem to reach them – at least not in the way you’d like.

It is very worrisome and can leave you feeling inadequate and even guilty thinking you are not a “good” parent. I can help you deal with your emotions, communicate better with your children and suggest ways that you can set appropriate limits on their behavior.

Counseling for teens

One of my passions as a therapist is helping teenagers move through the obstacles that are getting in the way of living their lives to their full potential (and causing their parents to worry).

I can help improve your teen’s behaviors at home and school. I can also help if your child is having social or academic problems. Adolescents respond well to my therapy approach because they feel that I understand them. This has brought me much success in working with them and their parents.

If you have an addiction:

Addiction is one of the most challenging concerns people bring to therapy. It is such a difficult problem to overcome in the first place, and once you do, your emotions often become intense and overwhelming.

Recovery is not always easy. You have to start dealing with your emotional baggage, family baggage and maybe work baggage that you were not fully in touch with previously because of the “numbing” effect of alcohol or drugs.

Counseling can help you calm and heal overwhelming and painful experiences that lie at the core of your addiction. It can help you heal the root causes of any depression, anxiety, or relationship problems. Together we will work to get your life back on track. You will be better able to face the reality of your new life clean and sober, and live it on life’s terms.

If you have a family member who has an addiction:

If you are a family member of someone who is struggling with an addiction, therapy can help you find ways to cope and ease (even heal) your stress and pain. You will be able to set better boundaries with your family member and take better care of yourself.

Loving someone who is addicted doesn’t have to be a rollercoaster of chaos. I can help you get your life back to normal regardless of whether your loved one stops their addictive behaviors.

To say it is challenging to care for elderly parents is an understatement.

You love your parents, but it can be tiring and stressful mentally, emotionally, and physically to care for them.

It takes a lot of time and energy, even if you don’t care for them full-time and only manage other caretakers.

The strain and worry may be overwhelming at times.

You worry about them falling, whether they are taking their medications, and if they’re safe to drive. Your concerns are endless.

And if you have conflict with your parents, it makes matters worse. You don’t want to get angry and cause more problems when they’re struggling enough already.

Too much stress over time can harm your own mental health.

Counseling with me can help you cope, develop self-care strategies, and get ideas to improve the situation for you and your parents.

I’ll support and guide you so you can reduce stress and take better care of yourself.  I’ll help you resolve difficult emotions, set realistic goals, and help you find additional supports if needed.

The better you care for yourself, the better the care will be for your parents.