Counseling, assessment & complementary therapies
Our services
Different people benefit from different approaches or solutions.
Our services
Counseling
Counseling offers time and space to explore what is happening in your life, understand patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and consider different ways forward. Our therapists work with individuals, adults, children, couples, and families. Whether you are facing a particular challenge or simply want a better understanding of yourself and your relationships, the conversation begins with your concerns and goals.
Hover over a topic, or select it, to learn more.
Individual
IndividualIndividual counseling provides one-to-one time to explore your experiences, priorities, and goals. Conversations can focus on emotional concerns, personal decisions, relationships, or patterns you would like to change, with room to work at a pace that fits you.
Adult
AdultAdult counseling can address the pressures of work, relationships, caregiving, health changes, and other responsibilities. It offers a place to reflect on what matters to you, understand difficult patterns, and explore practical changes in the way you respond to everyday challenges.
Children
ChildrenCounseling for children considers the child's age, development, relationships, and everyday environment. Depending on the concern, the work may include conversations with caregivers and age-appropriate ways for a child to express feelings, practice skills, and make sense of experiences.
Couples
CouplesCouples counseling creates a setting to examine recurring conflicts, communication habits, and each person's needs. Partners can explore how they respond to one another and what they want to change, whether they are seeking greater connection or working through a difficult decision.
Family
FamilyFamily counseling looks at relationships and patterns across the family rather than focusing only on one person's difficulties. Sessions can explore communication, expectations, conflict, and changes in family life, with attention to the perspectives and needs of the people involved.
Our services
Testing
Psychological testing can help clarify questions about learning, attention, emotional well-being, and everyday functioning. An evaluation brings together information from interviews, background history, and appropriate assessment tools to build a more complete picture. People seek testing for themselves or their children for many reasons, including learning concerns, giftedness, possible ADHD, or documentation to support a request for accommodations.
Hover over a topic, or select it, to learn more.
ADHD
ADHDADHD concerns can involve attention, organization, impulsivity, or difficulties completing everyday tasks. Assessment can help examine these patterns alongside other possible explanations. Counseling may focus on practical routines, coping skills, and the effects these challenges have on school, work, or relationships.
Gifted
GiftedAn assessment of giftedness explores cognitive strengths and the way a person learns and solves problems. Families may seek a clearer picture of a child's abilities or information for educational planning. School identification requirements vary, so discuss the intended use of the evaluation beforehand.
Learning Issues
Learning IssuesLearning concerns may involve reading, writing, mathematics, or keeping pace with schoolwork despite effort. An evaluation can examine areas of strength and difficulty and consider factors that affect learning. Understanding the pattern can help guide conversations about support at school or college.
Accommodations
AccommodationsAn evaluation may provide information relevant to a request for educational, testing, or workplace accommodations. Requirements depend on the organization and the situation. Discuss the specific documentation requested before arranging an assessment; an evaluation does not guarantee that an accommodation will be approved.
Anxiety
AnxietyAnxiety can show up as persistent worry, avoidance, tension, or feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty. Counseling can explore the situations and patterns connected with these experiences and consider ways to respond more effectively. Assessment may also help clarify anxiety concerns when an evaluation is appropriate.
Depression
DepressionConcerns about depression may include low mood, loss of interest, low energy, or changes in everyday functioning. Counseling offers a place to talk about these experiences and explore coping strategies, relationships, and support. An assessment can help examine mood concerns as part of a broader evaluation.
Conservatorship
ConservatorshipPsychological evaluation may be requested when there are questions about an adult's decision-making abilities or need for support. The assessment question and documentation requirements should be discussed in advance. Evaluation findings provide information for consideration; decisions about a conservatorship are made through the legal process.
Dementia
DementiaChanges in memory, thinking, or everyday functioning can raise questions about cognitive health. Psychological assessment may help describe a person's current strengths and difficulties. Concerns should also be discussed with a medical professional, since evaluation and care may involve several types of health providers.
Addictions
AddictionsAn assessment can explore concerns about substance use or other patterns that are affecting daily life and relationships. Counseling may address triggers, coping strategies, motivation for change, and support. The appropriate level of care depends on the person's circumstances and should be discussed individually.
Our services
Alternative Therapies
Some people are interested in bodywork or complementary practices alongside talking about their concerns. Our existing service offerings include massage, energy work, and other practitioner-specific approaches. These sessions differ in their methods, the amount of touch involved, and the way practitioners describe their work. Learning what to expect can help you choose an approach that matches your preferences and comfort level.
Hover over a topic, or select it, to learn more.
Massage
MassageMassage is a form of bodywork that involves working with the body's soft tissues. The techniques and amount of pressure vary by practitioner and by a client's preferences. Before a session, discuss comfort, relevant health conditions, and what you would like the session to focus on.
Energy Work
Energy WorkEnergy work is an umbrella term for complementary practices that may involve light touch or hands held near the body. Practitioners describe their approach in terms of energy and balance. Scientific support for energy-field explanations is lacking; ask about the specific method and what a session involves.
Visceral Therapy
Visceral TherapyVisceral therapy refers to bodywork approaches focused on the abdominal organs and surrounding tissues, often using gentle manual contact. Techniques differ between practitioners. Ask about the method, the practitioner's training, and how your health history and comfort will be considered before beginning a session.
Ortho Bionomy
Ortho BionomyOrtho-Bionomy is a gentle form of bodywork that uses positioning and movement, with attention to comfort and the body's responses. A practitioner may guide you into comfortable positions rather than using forceful manipulation. Discuss the session's techniques, your preferences, and any relevant physical limitations beforehand.
Release of Negativity
Release of NegativityThis label describes work focused on experiences or thought patterns that feel draining or difficult to let go of. The approach depends on the practitioner and may be framed in emotional or complementary terms. Discuss what the session involves and which goals matter to you.
Resolving Fears
Resolving FearsSessions focused on fears may explore what brings up distress, how you respond, and what you would like to handle differently. The methods vary between counseling and complementary practices. Ask the practitioner to explain the approach and how it fits your particular concerns and comfort level.
Resolving Grief
Resolving GriefGrief can bring sadness, uncertainty, anger, and changes in the way you experience everyday life. Support offers space to acknowledge the loss and explore what you need now. If considering a complementary session, ask how the practitioner approaches grief and what to expect.
Auric Cleansing
Auric CleansingAuric cleansing is a term used in some complementary traditions for practices described as clearing a person's surrounding energy field. Such fields have not been scientifically established. Ask the practitioner about the actual activities involved, touch preferences, and the personal goals of a session.
Balancing Chakras
Balancing ChakrasChakras are described in some spiritual and complementary traditions as centers of energy. A session framed around balancing chakras may include guided attention, light touch, or other practitioner-specific practices. These concepts are not established medical explanations; ask how the practitioner uses them in a session.
Releasing Negative People
Releasing Negative PeopleThis topic concerns the impact of relationships that feel draining, hurtful, or difficult to navigate. A conversation can explore boundaries, expectations, and the choices available to you. Ask whether the practitioner's approach involves counseling, reflection, or a complementary practice so you know what to expect.
Homeopathy
HomeopathyHomeopathy uses preparations based on a system of highly diluted substances and individualized remedies. There is little evidence supporting it as a treatment for specific health conditions. Products can have risks or interactions, so discuss them with a qualified medical professional rather than replacing established care.
Essential Oils
Essential OilsEssential oils are concentrated plant extracts used in aromatherapy, often through scent or diluted topical preparations. Suitability depends on the oil, the way it is used, and personal sensitivities. Ask about ingredients, allergies, and safe use before including them in a session.
Our services
Typical Issues
People come to counseling with many different concerns: low mood, anxiety, grief, relationship changes, parenting challenges, or a sense that something in life is not working as well as they would like. Sometimes there is a clear problem to address, and sometimes it is difficult to put the experience into words. Either can be a starting point for a conversation.
Hover over a topic, or select it, to learn more.
Depression
DepressionConcerns about depression may include low mood, loss of interest, low energy, or changes in everyday functioning. Counseling offers a place to talk about these experiences and explore coping strategies, relationships, and support. An assessment can help examine mood concerns as part of a broader evaluation.
Anxiety
AnxietyAnxiety can show up as persistent worry, avoidance, tension, or feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty. Counseling can explore the situations and patterns connected with these experiences and consider ways to respond more effectively. Assessment may also help clarify anxiety concerns when an evaluation is appropriate.
Trauma
TraumaDistressing experiences can affect how a person feels, thinks, and responds long after an event has ended. Counseling can provide space to discuss these effects and explore ways to feel more grounded. The approach and pace should take account of your readiness, preferences, and sense of safety.
ADHD
ADHDADHD concerns can involve attention, organization, impulsivity, or difficulties completing everyday tasks. Assessment can help examine these patterns alongside other possible explanations. Counseling may focus on practical routines, coping skills, and the effects these challenges have on school, work, or relationships.
Grief
GriefGrief is a personal response to loss, and it does not follow one timetable or pattern. Counseling offers room to talk about the person, relationship, or part of life you have lost, and to consider how to move through everyday responsibilities while honoring that experience.
Divorce
DivorceSeparation and divorce can bring practical decisions, strong emotions, and changes in identity and relationships. Counseling can help you reflect on those changes, explore communication and boundaries, and consider the needs of children or other family members as you navigate the transition.
Transitions
TransitionsLife changes can be difficult even when they are welcome or expected. A move, new role, retirement, health change, or shift in a relationship may call for different ways of coping. Counseling provides space to understand the adjustment and identify strengths and support you can draw on.
Communication
CommunicationCommunication concerns often involve more than finding the right words. Counseling can explore listening habits, assumptions, recurring misunderstandings, and how conflict develops. The goal is to understand the pattern and practice ways of expressing needs and responding to others more clearly.
Parenting
ParentingParenting questions can involve expectations, boundaries, behavior, and changes as children grow. Counseling can help caregivers explore their concerns, consider a child's developmental needs, and examine family communication. Sessions can also provide space to reflect on the pressures and emotions of being a parent.
College Struggles
College StrugglesCollege can bring academic demands, changing relationships, greater independence, and uncertainty about the future. Counseling offers a place to talk about those pressures and consider routines, support, and decisions. Assessment may also be relevant when attention or learning concerns are part of the difficulty.
Addiction
AddictionCounseling for addiction-related concerns can focus on understanding a pattern of use or behavior, identifying triggers, and exploring reasons for change. Conversations may include relationships, coping skills, and sources of support. The type and intensity of care needed vary from person to person.
Anger
AngerAnger can signal frustration, hurt, or unmet expectations, but the way it is expressed may create additional problems. Counseling can help you recognize triggers and patterns, understand what is happening beneath the reaction, and explore ways to respond that fit your goals and relationships.
Complementary approaches
Alternative therapies.
We have people who do massage therapy and energy work. Our energy therapist is trained in Reiki and other energy modalities.
Common questions
More about our services.
Explore questions about counseling, Healing Touch, and psychological testing.
Counseling
Who decides to go to a therapist?
Anyone who would like to feel better or learn new strategies and approaches to life and relationships might want to go to therapy sessions. It’s important to realize, though, that just as with medical treatments, such as surgery, many people feel more uncomfortable after treatment begins before they feel better. Therapy is a process, though, and is more like learning something new, instead of a medical treatment, such as getting a shot of penicillin. You, the client, are very involved in the process of therapy and in whatever changes you experience.
Read this question on its own pageIsn’t therapy only for people with serious problems?
That used to be true, just as people used to only go to dentists to have their teeth pulled. Now, people go to dentists to have preventative work done so they can avoid losing their teeth and can save themselves from pain. Similarly, now people go to therapists to enhance their enjoyment of life as well as to avoid losing relationships, sleep, jobs, and whatever else is important to them.
Read this question on its own pageWhy go to a therapist?
Getting hidden frustrations, fear, and pain into the open in a supportive environment usually helps people feels better about themselves so they can find more effective ways of dealing with challenging issues or people. Even people who have many good friends and a close family might benefit from seeing a therapist because therapists listen differently from the way friends and family members do. Going to therapy is not a guarantee that things will get better in your life. Some people change a lot in therapy and some change very little. You have control over how much you change.
Read this question on its own pageWhat if I don’t know exactly what’s wrong or what to ask for?
Many people who come for therapy only know that “something isn’t right” or “I’m miserable” or “I can’t sleep well.” During the process of therapy, the client and therapist can work together to more accurately identify what is bothering you so you can more effectively improve your life.
Read this question on its own pageHow long does therapy last?
Some people come for a few sessions and some people come for a few years. You can decide how many issues you want to work on, how intensely you want to work in sessions, what books you want to read between sessions, and if you want to take a break. Sometimes people work on some issues and then take a break for a while, returning for additional sessions or to work on new issues that have crept up. In some ways, the need for therapy on and off continues. It’s like having a new car that will eventually need to have the oil changed or new tires. Everything we’re involved with, including ourselves, needs periodic work to function well. One client I have describes follow-up therapy as representing “a 10,000 thought check-up.”
Read this question on its own pageWhat is the difference between psychology and psychiatry?
Therapists who work in the area of psychology studied psychology in school and learned to do therapy by talking with people or using other non-medical approaches. Psychiatrists went to medical school and can prescribe medications to help people deal with situations, feelings, or issues. Many clients go to a psychiatrist for medications and also go to a therapist to learn more effective ways of dealing with life. Most therapists and psychiatrists expect to work together to help clients make changes in their lives. Research has shown that just taking medication is not usually an effective way to make changes that last; it is usually necessary to include therapy to have changes that last.
Read this question on its own pageWhat is involved in marriage/relationship therapy?
Sometimes people want to learn how to find the right person for their marriage/relationship or if they have found the right person. The answer is that marriages or relationships that remain effective over the years involve more intentional action than luck. We each have strengths and weaknesses; having successful relationships involves us learning to appreciate each other’s strengths and tolerate each other’s weaknesses, just as we hope our partners will do with us. When we look for someone who is a “soulmate” or “the right person” rather than looking for a fellow human being with whom to share a life, we set ourselves up for failure. When we look for a real person rather than hoping for a fantasy of living happily ever after, we set ourselves up for the possibility of success.
Read this question on its own pageHealing Touch
What is Healing Touch?
From an experiential standpoint, Healing Touch (“HT”) Therapists use gentle placement and movements of their hands either lightly touching the body or several inches above it to balance and restore the energy field. The effect of this therapy has been described as similar to “acupuncture without the needles.” It is generally more relaxing than receiving a massage.
Read this question on its own pageWhat is the basis for Healing Touch?
Healing Touch (“HT”) is an energy-based medical practice that incorporates the energetic model of quantum physics, the body-mind understanding of psychoneuroimmunology, and the holistic view of interacting systems. HT supports the body’s natural healing processes.
Read this question on its own pageWhat kind of energy are you referring to?
If you have ever entered a room and felt tension in the room or been around someone who “radiates happiness” you have experienced the effects of the energy we each possess. Although most people are aware of “feeling tension” or recognizing the positive energy of happiness, many people are just now learning that healing touch therapists can work with these forms of energy as well as other forms of body energy.
Read this question on its own pageWhat will happen if I come for a Healing Touch session?
First you will sit in a chair and discuss with the HT Therapist why you are here, a brief version of your medical history and how you wish to benefit from the session. Your clothing remains on and it is suggested that you wear comfortable clothes, not something that feels too tight. You will be asked to remove your shoes and lie on a massage table.
The HT Therapist will begin to assess and treat your energetic condition by very gently touching you or by moving her hands over your body.
Most people sleep during a portion of their session. Each person I’ve worked with has felt better in some way. Some people feel dramatically better and some feel mildly better, but it is reasonable to expect to feel better in some way after the session.
What you experience during the session is unique to your situation. The most common comments I hear after a session are: “Wow” “ I feel lighter”, “I didn’t know I could get this relaxed”; “I don’t want to get up, can I lie here longer?”; “I feel peaceful”, and “How did you do that?”
Read this question on its own pageIs this like hypnosis? Will you be in control or will I be in control?
HT is not like hypnosis. You are in control. The HT therapist follows the flow of energy in your body and helps it to flow more smoothly, rather than controlling it.
Read this question on its own pageWhere did it originate?
Healing Touch International was begun by the Holistic Nursing Association in 1976. A nurse at New York University first developed Therapeutic Touch which was later incorporated in the Healing Touch curriculum.
Read this question on its own pageWhat education is required to provide Healing Touch?
The Healing Touch International Program provides training through the Colorado Center for Healing Touch in Denver. There are five levels of training to complete the program with independent study protocols between each of the five levels. For instance, before moving to Level III you must treat and write up at least 100 cases and have completed a year of study in a mentorship program with a certified HT Instructor. Because each student can move forward at an individual rate, there is no set time period for completing the five levels. The average student completes the program in 4 to 6 years. After completion of the HT Program, continuing education is required (as is typical for most professions).
Read this question on its own pageCan science explain Healing Touch?
Yes. Science has discovered and proven that between each atom is a wave of energy. Science cannot explain what that wave of energy is but does confirm that it exists. Several studies have confirmed that HT relaxes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Science can prove that HT has an effect, in the same way that they have proven that prayer has a positive effect. There are several books available to answer this question in depth. Please contact me if you would like a list.
Read this question on its own pageHow is Healing Touch used in a hospital or other setting?
HT can be done anywhere. I have worked in a hospital setting for several years as well as having a private practice. In the hospital I have worked on patients in their rooms; in the holding area before surgery, in the surgical suite during surgery, in the recovery room after surgery or in treatment or diagnostic areas while they undergo procedures. Although the optimal setting is a quiet office where a client/patient can lie down, it is not required.
Read this question on its own pageIs there any research on Healing Touch?
Yes, there is a great deal of previous research on HT, as well as ongoing research that is not yet published. You can obtain copies of some of the research by contacting the Colorado Center for Healing Touch.
Read this question on its own pageTesting
If I am taking medication, should I take it the day of my evaluation? Should I give my child his/her medication before an evaluation?
Yes, absolutely. This is especially important if children are taking medication for ADHD/ADD because the medication can help them cope more successfully with the demands of the evaluation. We want to see the optimal performance of the person being tested.
How should I prepare my child for an evaluation?
You can tell your child that you are taking them to have some tests done to find out more about how they learn and where their strengths and weaknesses are. You might want to tell them that the results of the tests will help you and their teachers understand their individual capabilities. A better understanding of the situation will help reveal more effective ways to enhance your children’s strengths and talents and also will allow teachers and you to help with any problems your children have. Children who are brought for testing usually are aware that something in their lives is uncomfortable or needs to be changed. Because they are likely to already be aware that they need help, they are likely to be relieved that someone is taking their situation seriously and wants to learn more about them to make it possible to provide help.
I can usually handle any testing concerns children raise in the course of an evaluation, and I always address their perceptions of why they are here before testing starts. Making sure your children get adequate rest and a nutritious breakfast is helpful, but your child will also be given breaks as needed during the evaluation. A lengthy lunch break is included during the more complete evaluations. Parents are encouraged to take younger children somewhere for lunch where they can run around or get some exercise before returning for the rest of the evaluation. In rare cases, a child needs to be tested on more than one day, but most people can have their testing completed in one day. Sometimes adults complete some tests at home, but children usually complete all their testing here in the office.
Read this question on its own pageWho has access to my test data or my child’s test data?
If adults request testing, they receive the report. If they want anyone else to receive the report (e.g., their therapist, physician , lawyer, college, etc.), they must sign a release before the report can be sent to that individual or facility. If a third party requests the evaluation (e.g., the court, the Social Security Administration, or an agency such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Goodwill Industries, etc.) and pays for it, they are presumed to own the report because they have the clients’ or claimants’ permission to have the testing done and receive the report. If clients or claimants want feedback from the testing, they will be told to contact the organization requesting the testing to receive that information.
If parents request testing for their children, the parents receive the report. If they want anyone else to receive the report (e.g., the school, therapist, physician, etc.), they can give or send the report directly to that person or organization. If they want the report faxed or sent from our office to someone else, they must sign a written release giving us permission to send the report to that party. Again, if a third party requests the evaluation with a signed release from the person being tested, that organization is presumed to own the report and that organization would be approached with any requests for information.
Copies of all evaluations, including test data, are kept at Counseling Associates for three to ten years and are then shredded. Psychological reports are not considered current after they are three years old. They need to be replaced by new reports that take into consideration recent events or changes in the person being tested. Old reports, like new reports, are not released without permission of the person requesting the testing.
Read this question on its own pageHow do I know that psychological testing is needed?
Typically, testing should be considered when a person’s problems begin to make it difficult to function at home, in school, or in relationships. Sometimes a teacher, spouse, family member, employer, co-worker, or physician will point out these problems and suggest testing. Discussing these concerns with Dr. Sherrod can help determine if testing is best, or if therapy or another intervention would be more appropriate.
In the case of children, grades could begin to suffer or teachers might complain about the child’s behavior or academic performance. Sometimes the school recommends testing to help school personnel better understand how to help your child. Sometimes testing is needed before special education services can be started (including services for gifted children). In the case of ADHD/ADD or other mental health diagnoses (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.), many physicians (including pediatricians) will not dispense medication without psychological test data supporting the diagnosis. In other cases, parents become concerned about their child’s functioning at home. Perhaps the child has become withdrawn, aggressive, or somehow “different” from the way he or she used to be. Perhaps there has been a change in the family the child is having trouble adjusting to (e.g., parental divorce or separation, death of a family member, a move to a new city or school, or the birth or adoption of a sibling). Sometimes a child’s therapist will recommend testing as a way of further crystallizing the problems to be addressed in therapy. We do testing for several therapists and then send the reports to the therapists so they can discuss the results with the family.
In the case of adults, testing can be done to discover previously undiagnosed learning disabilities (sometimes helpful for college students who are not functioning as well as they think they should) or mental disorders (e.g., adult ADHD/ADD). Sometimes people want to understand themselves better so they can more easily get along with others or find the answers they are looking for. Adults’ therapists also sometimes recommend testing.
Read this question on its own page