About
Growing doesn’t stop at 21.
Life is a long journey of learning and growing, but many people believe that once they become “adults,” they are supposed to figure it out on their own. The truth is that life is never simple, and it doesn’t get any easier once you turn 21.
In fact, it all gets more complicated from there. But there are no classes on how to navigate dating in your 20s. There are no college classes on how to talk with your partner when you or they are angry or sad. There are no college credits on how to navigate the emotions that come with parenting, divorce, and grief.
You might be dealing with one of these issues now. If not, you will have to deal with one or more of them at some point in this life. If you feel lost and confused, you’re not alone; this is why counselors exist in our communities, to help get through these times.
What’s in it for you?
These life lessons are some of the most important things you will ever learn. Mental health is a place to heal broken hearts and strengthen and expand your heart‘s capacity to receive and deepen connection.
My training is in family systems therapy. So, I use a systemic lens to work with individuals, couples, and family subsystems (sister and brother, father and daughter). I work with every client in the context of their relationships to themselves and others.
We are all shaped by relationships from childhood and continue to be shaped by our current relationships. For better or worse, our personalities have been largely conditioned to be as they are because of the personalities that have influenced us.
Once you become aware of these conditions and their root causes, you can better understand why you’ve been getting the same results and what you can do about it.
About Paul D. Altine
Counselor, MA, LMHCA
Helping others pleases me.
I love helping others through therapy. My work is rewarding and brings me great satisfaction. If you’re looking for help, I would love to get to know you.
Forming a relationship with my clients is essential in determining success. If you can bring an open mind and heart to the session, you will find precisely what you need in every session. I can confidently say this because I’ve seen it happen often with my clients. Even after 15 years of practice, my clients always amaze and inspire me.
Examples are my ‘thing.’
If you decide to work with me, be prepared to hear a lot of analogies and metaphors in sessions with me. It’s just how my brain works, and I can’t help that. This work is complicated enough, and using metaphors from everyday life is one of the best ways to simplify complex ideas. You have enough to think about. The simpler this all is, the easier it is to find solutions and see progress.
As a music lover, I may use it as a reference point in the therapeutic process. I believe music can be medicine. Over my many years of working with people from all over the country, I have seen how much music can serve as a soundtrack to our lives. I have a long and beautiful relationship with music, listening to it any chance I can and creating it with friends in my spare time.
When I am not seeing clients…
… I can often be found at a local drum circle. I love the space drum circles offer for creativity and connection with people. I have been involved in drum circles for 20 years. It’s a passion that never burns out for me.