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Counseling Services

How Do You Know When You Need Help?

Life is difficult. All people experience challenges and potential problems in life's normal developmental stages in marriage, parenting, career choices, and aging, for example. Unexpected events such as divorce, illness, and untimely deaths may also occur. During such times the services of a qualified counselor can be helpful. Recognizing a problem is the first step toward a solution. Examples of distress that may signal the need for a trained counselor include:

• Persistent feelings of loneliness, moodiness, depression, or anxiety
• A sense of dissatisfaction in marriage, family life, or other relationships
• Behavioral problems with a child
• Significant or prolonged disruption of usual daily patterns such as work, leisure, eating and sleeping, or social involvement
• One or more people you trust saying they think you need counseling

Life, while difficult, is also rich with possibilities. The same developmental stages that bring potential problems in life also bring opportunities for growth. A counselor may help not only in problem-solving but in exploring new horizons of creativity and personal discovery. A general goal of counseling is to facilitate a greater celebration of life.

Lois Dennett, M.A., LMFT

Lois is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She works with families, couples, and individuals dealing with a wide range of issues. She has extensive experience working with people dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, stress, illness, life transitions, and spiritual struggles. In addition, Lois has helped people through relational difficulties including parenting, marriage, divorce, step-families, and employment environments.

Lois tailors the counseling process to the needs of each client. That may include improving skills in communication, parenting, or stress management; exploring families of origin; identifying self-defeating thought patterns; or changing ineffective behaviors. She believes people have within themselves the resources necessary to resolve what troubles them. Her aim is to help them identify and activate those resources.

Lois' approach is based on the Solution Focused Model of Family Systems Theory.

For more information on Lois or the Counseling Center, please check: www.loisdennett.com

Counseling Center

Located at Marine View Presbyterian Church near Dash Point, Marine View Counseling Center opened in 1988 to address a need within the church and surrounding community for accessible and affordable counseling services. The Center seeks to follow biblical injunction to “bear one another's burdens” so that we all might experience fullness of life. While the Center has a direct affiliation with the church and the counselor shares a commitment to the Christian faith, it is a private professional practice and not a part of the church staff.

The Center values the diversity of traditions and persuasions within the larger community and welcomes all people regardless of race or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religion.

The Center offers counseling services for adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families. Group therapy and workshops may also be offered to serve the special needs of the community.

The counseling fee is consistent with other professional counseling services. Some insurance will cover part of the fee. The fee may be adjusted on a sliding scale dependent upon household income.