ABOUT
Are you ready for counseling?
Yes, as a practicing professional counselor I will offer you a safe, non-judgmental environment where you may be listened to and validated. Sounds like a cliché, doesn’t it? But it’s true: Feeling supported and truly listened to, validated, and understood as a human being is a great feeling.
All of this can be soothing and comforting in and of itself. Furthermore, some people have interest in developing insight into their current symptoms (typically what brings them to therapy) and who they truly are: their personality, their behavior, emotions, thoughts, core beliefs, and the factors that may have contributed to them. Some people become aware of what we refer to as “blind spots.”
Think of it this way…
The typical car rearview mirror will not show a car that is driving alongside in your car’s “blind spot”; however, the fact that you cannot see the other car in the mirror does not mean that the other car isn’t there. It is!
You turn your car to the side without looking over your shoulder (checking the “blind spot”) and guess what happens: Bam! Looking over your shoulder for the “blind spot” will most likely enable you to make a better driving decision. “Blind spots” also apply to us humans: We all have them!
The various levels of therapy
Some people come to therapy with a relatively high degree of insight: It varies with each person. For others, nonetheless, developing and having insight into themselves through just talking with a therapist is not sufficient to jumpstart personal change and self-development.
Despite benefits of what is stated above, some want to go further than being listened to in a warm, non-judgmental environment; that is, some want very specific, structured help like the one I offer. For example, some may want to learn to bring into consciousness to their unhelpful, self-defeating thinking patterns and to replace them with more realistic, positive ones; in other words, they want to unlearn them. Others may want to learn and practice skills and tools that they can use naturally in their daily living. Some may want to specifically address symptoms related to the aftermath of experiencing traumatic events (a.k.a., trauma resolution), which sometimes may trace as far back as your childhood. If this describes the healing journey that you seek, we can work through it together in therapy.
ABOUT ME
My name is Hector A. Pereles, an engineer turned professional counselor. Wait!: Engineer turned counselor? Is this correct? Yes, you read correctly. It is sort of a rare breed or unusual career change, isn’t it? But yes: That’s me!
You may be asking yourself why the career change. Well, a time ago I underwent a challenging period in my life which prompted me to reflect upon and take inventory of my career satisfaction; then I realized that engineering no longer was a fulfilling career choice.
Throughout my adulthood, I have been an avid believer and advocate of self-growth and self-development. During the previously mentioned challenging time in my life, I relied on self-help books as well as counseling via other people. Yes, I know how it feels to be a counseling client because I have been one! So, after helping myself through self-help books and counseling, I simply decided to go pro and help others, or “take my show on the road.”
Let’s discuss some of my therapy approaches. Warning: The following might sound like psychobabble (or Greek, or French: Hehe!), nonetheless it may be worth mentioning. My approaches to counseling or therapy include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-based therapy, and exposure therapy.
However, no single approach to psychotherapy or counseling works for everybody. Depending upon our work together, I may utilize techniques from varied therapy approaches, especially Internal Family Systems (IFS), as well as other approaches that I might recommend.
Outside the office when I am not practicing therapy, I enjoy such hobbies as exercising, watching and practicing sports (especially volleyball and tennis), movie watching (I tend to be a “movie buff”), collecting and listening to music, computer work, traveling, dancing, outdoor activities (parks and recreation), and amusement and water parks. One little known fact about me, which some people find hard to guess due to my often times nerdy look, is that I used to be a competitive swimmer and volleyball player. My dream residence would have a backyard with a pool and a beach or park as I very much enjoy to spend time in nature.