Psychotherapy or counseling with a psychotherapist, is the intentional interpersonal relationship used by trained psychotherapists to aid a patient in problems of living. It’s aim is to increase the individual’s sense of their own well-being, reduce problem symptoms, and ensure that psychological conditions are well managed. Counselors and psychotherapists employ a range of techniques including those that examine and change a person’s way of thinking, patterns of behavior, or ways of controlling their emotions.
Using a number of therapeutic techniques tailored to the specific problems and conditions of each individual, the psychologists and counselors at APG treat a wide variety of disorders.

Family psychotherapy or counseling is a type of therapy that works with families or parts of families (parent-child, siblings, etc) to help to nurture change and development. The focus is on improving communication and interactions so that each member is able to have their needs met, thoughts and feelings understood, and so that parents can guide children to be effective and satisfied adults. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. It emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in psychological health.
APG therapist use a number of therapeutic techniques tailored to the specific problems and conditions of each family. Specialized parenting techniques are taught for families that include member with certain disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, attachment disturbances, or neurologically based behavioral disorders.

Marital psychotherapy or counseling is a type of therapy that works with those in intimate relationships. The focus is on improving communication and interactions so that each member is able to have their needs met, thoughts and feelings understood, and so that a couple can cope effectively together to manage conflict or hard times. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between the couple. Sometimes, such therapy is used to create an amicable divorce and an effective co-parenting relationship to minimize damage done to children after a marital separation.
APG therapist’s use a number of therapeutic techniques tailored to the specific problems and conditions of each couple. The focus is on the couple’s relationship and patterns of interaction. Since each couple is unique, therapists do not impose a “right” way for a relationship to work, but help guide a couple to communicate and meet each other’s needs in a way that is effective and satisfying for each person.

At APG, we recognize that the most powerful influence on a child are his/her parents and caregivers. Often, mood and behavioral disorders are strongly affected by changes in the way parents set limits, impose discipline, model behaviors, provide nurturance, as well as the attitude with which they interact with their children. Behavior management training is designed to provide tools to parents to reduce problem behaviors and to help a child through developmental stages in a healthy manner.
As part of such training, caregivers are taught specific behavior management techniques, theories and practices of behavior therapy, and the developmental issues of importance in addressing their children’s problems. The goal is for parents to become comfortable and effective in applying these strategies in everyday situations. Such techniques can include:

Play therapy is generally employed with children aged 3 through 11 and provides a way for them to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process. As children's experiences and knowledge are often communicated through play, it becomes an important vehicle for them to know and accept themselves and others. Play therapists utilize the child’s play to help them express emotions and work through traumatic or difficult circumstances.
Expressive therapies include art, music, and movement as a form of self expression, as well as a technique in addressing difficult emotional experiences in a safe and effective manner. Such techniques can also be used to learn more effective ways to view and react to difficult circumstances.
At APG, child therapists use a combination of play and expressive techniques, as well as more direct methods to help a child learn new attitudes, coping skills, and channels of emotional expression. Typically, such therapy will be utilized in conjunction with parent consultation and/or training.

Stress and worry often contribute to both emotional and physical disorders, and can be a part of everyday life. Managing stress can improve both physical health and quality of life. Stress management techniques are designed to change a person's attitude toward life, provide strategies to reduce the physical symptoms of stress, and to encourage lifestyle changes (e.g., eating, exercise, sleep) increase health and happiness. Such strategies may include:

A consultation with a substance abuse professional can provide a clear assessment of level of addiction, complicating conditions, and the best method of recovery treatment. In conjunction with structured support programs for substance abuse (Alcoholic’s Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, Rational Recovery), substance abuse counseling provides additional motivation and direction for establishing a recovery program that can be effective and life changing. In addition, such counseling can address comorbid emotional issues that need to be resolved to sustain a consistent program of recovery.

For patients suffering from neurological disorders that damage a person’s memory, reasoning, communication, attention, and problem solving, cognitive rehabilitation is the treatment of choice. Utilizing both a computer based program of activities, practical rehabilitation strategies, and environmental/academic/vocational accommodations, the cognitive therapist builds a treatment plan designed to increase the patient’s functional abilities and independence.