Our Mission
The Chrysalis Center aspires to provide comprehensive psychological services that value the complexity of the human mind and experience. This includes a respect of cultural, societal, familial, biological, and individual factors that shape one’s experience in life. Beyond alleviation of problematic symptoms, we aim to increase well-being and resilience through a more fully experienced and meaningful life. We place a special emphasis on the therapy relationship as the crucial juncture where this change is most viable.
We also aim to provide a psychological presence within our social and professional communities. We will accomplish this through outreach, education, research, training, and shared clinical wisdom.
Trauma & PTSD
Trauma takes many forms, including abuse, neglect, sexual and physical assaults, natural disasters, or other events that leave lasting painful effects. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one potential consequence of trauma and is comprised of symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition or mood, and dysregulated arousal.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common reasons people seek counseling. Depression is a persistent state of low mood and energy that is often accompanied by negative thoughts about self, others, and the world. Depression can develop due to a combination of reasons, including biological, environmental, interpersonal, and cognitive and emotional patterns.
Anxiety
For some people, anxiety and fear are no longer adaptive emotional experiences but instead have become problematic, chronic or overwhelming states. Constantly existing in states of fear with worrisome thoughts, overthinking situations, or feeling tense and restless, can have a negative impact on important areas of your life. Internal psychological processes and genetic, environmental, nutritional, sleep, and physical health factors can all contribute to anxiety.
Relationships
Inevitably, there is difficulty in our relationships, whether it be with family, friends, co-workers, or romantic partners. Often, issues in our relationships arise when our typical ways of responding to conflict are unhealthy and do not lead to resolutions. At Chrysalis we believe that we are inherently social as human beings. As such, an understanding of our prototypical ways of relating to others is essential to our health and well-being.
Personality
Personality refers to the consistent ways in which we tend to think, perceive, feel, and behave. Each of us has developed a personality that helps us move through life and the world. Our personality is a blend of the temperament we were born with, the environments to which we needed to adapt, and the interaction of the two. Sometimes the very same thing about our personality that can be helpful in some contexts can cause continual problems in others.
Chronic Pain
Many people suffering from chronic pain have become skeptical of the idea that psychological interventions can be beneficial. Too many trips to too many doctors, and too many suggestions that the pain is “all in your head” have left most people struggling with chronic pain and illness feeling hopeless and angry. At Chrysalis, we know you hurt and we know your pain is real. Pain is a complex phenomenon involving multiple factors that we can sort through together to get you back on a path to feeling good about yourself.