Individual Counseling

Individual counseling consists of private, confidential one on one therapy between counselor and client.  The counselor hopes to build a comfortable non-judgmental environment where the client can feel free to divulge there inner most thoughts, feelings and behaviors that may be causing emotional and physical distress.  Through numerous types of therapy the counselor hope to set goals that will invariably bring a relief of depression, stress, anxiety, low self esteem and any other psychological issues that may be present. 

Group Therapy

The goal of group therapy is to provide a more extensive therapy that allows the client to work out the problems of daily living with other clients who have similar issues.  Group therapy is more economical and can benefit clients who are looking for education about their issues as well as a safe setting to put into practice therapeutic techniques they may learn with others in the group.

In group therapy one has the unusual opportunity to express their real thoughts and feelings.  There is no necessity to force oneself to behave one way or another.  Some people, new in the group, like to participate actively from the beginning; others prefer to remain silent for a while.  In any event observe what others do.  Become aware of your feeling throughout the meetings.  As one participates they become more involved, understanding what the group and the therapist are working toward.  One will gradually grasp the underlying significance of the procedure and become emotionally involved.  The situation is like watching people dance and then dancing yourself.

Marriage and Family Therapy

Marriage and Family therapy includes couples, pre-marital, and post marital therapy.  During the initial session the couple meets together with the therapist to discuss their collective histories and issues that have been problematic to their relationship.  After the initial session the clients divide the session into three parts:  Each client meets individually for 20min with the counselor to discuss issues they are dealing with in the relationship. Hopefully, the individual sessions will provide them some insight into their own behaviors that may be inhibiting their relationship with their partner.  These individual sessions are treated as such and are kept confidential between the therapist and client not shared with the others spouse or partner.  After the individual time the client meet together to work on communication styles to help them better work through their issues in calm manner and provide them some sense of understanding of how their relationship got this point.  In pre-marital therapy these techniques are used as preventative measures to be sure that there are no underlying issues prior to a lifelong commitment.

When children are involved it is some times necessary to bring them into the situation and have a family session.  This allows the parents and the children to speak openly about family dynamics and how they may be impacting the relationships and behaviors of every one involved.

Child and Adolescent therapies

Children between the ages 4 &11 are seen in our offices for numerous reasons, ADHD, oppositional defiance, conduct, adjustment to life changes, broken families and trauma.   At Cassius and Associates we believe the child is a priority in families.  We strive to develop loving communication between parent and child.  It is the goal of the counselor to present a trusting and comfortable atmosphere to enable the child freedom of expression both verbally and emotionally.  We hope to give the parents a better understanding of how to cope with their child's behavior and create a structured environment for the family. 

The counselors use individual and family therapy that combines techniques of play and behavioral therapies.

Teenagers between the ages of 12 & 18 are treated for many of the same issues as children.  However, they are also dealing with issues of an ever changing society that affects their self esteem and self concept.  Many Adolescents have symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress which may lead to problems with behavior, anger management, sexual identity, and eating disorders as well as many other tribulations.

At Cassius and Associates we treat each adolescent as a unique person understanding that there are many expectations for today's teenager.  Through individual and group therapies we hope to build a child's understanding of what society expects of them and how they can learn to cope with the changes their body and mind are going through.  

Cassius and Associates has built close relationships throughout the city of Memphis with the juvenile courts, schools, religious organizations, and the Department of Children Services as a major referral source for children and adolescents that are in need of counseling.  Cassius and Associates offers anger management and behavioral groups for adolescents who have oppositional defiant behaviors and Conduct disorders.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for therapeutic benefits.  Eric Cassius is a trained Clinical Hypnotherapist.  Through the therapeutic technique of hypnosis Mr. Cassius is able to treat a number of emotional and behavioral problems including, but not limited to: compulsive eating and other eating disorders, smoking, sexual dysfunction in men and women, phobia's including fear of flying, public speaking and agoraphobia.

Hypnosis is also very commonly used for enhancing academic and sports performance, relief from chronic pain, regression to uncover negative behavior patterns, and memory enhancement. 

Many people have found hypnosis to be a successful alternative to regular therapy.  The use of hypnosis helps the individual realize that through the power of their own mind and thoughts they can accomplish their goals.  What one tells them self has the greatest power over their life.

Everyone has been hypnotized or in a trance at one point or another in their lives.  Just a quick example:  Think back to when you were in elementary school the teacher is talking about something you are not really interested in and you loose yourself in thought about going outside for recess.  The teacher catches you day dreaming and asks you what hey have been talking about.  With some thought you are able to recall many of the key points the teacher was lecturing about.  However, if she asks for details it may be difficult to respond.  What happened was that even when your conscious mind takes a break for a while you subconscious mind takes over storing key information that may be important for later use.  Have you ever driven home from work and when you have gotten their not remembered the trip because you were lost in thought?

*For more information please visit our page Questions on Hypnosis and Misconceptions.

Hypnosis for Academic and Athletic Performance

Through the years hypnosis has been used in a number of ways in academic performance.  In particular, it has been used to reduce generalized anxiety and test anxiety.  Excessive anxiety lowers intellectual efficiency and may impair performance. However hypnosis, especially learning self hypnosis skills, gives the student a self-management tool.  Hypnosis has also been widely accepted as a tool to help students enhance learning and recall.  Using hypnotic suggestions to stimulate interest in and retention for academic materials has been successful.  The use of hypnosis has also been effective in motivating helping people with reading comprehension.

Hypnosis to enhance sports performance has been used for years helping the athletes focus and concentrate on their goals and being able to reach them by creating an open eyed trance that allows the athletes to enter the "zone".   Hypnotic training is individually designed for each athlete based on their particular needs and sport.  Training plans are based on which overall strategies are needed with the individual athlete.

1. Enhance sensory awareness and muscle control.

2. Increase concentration, control internal dialogue, and decrease awareness of unimportant external stimuli.

3. Control anxiety, anger, and emotion.

4. Enhance motivation and enthusiasm.

5. Increase self-esteem and confidence.

6. Control perception of time and focus on the experience.

7. Resolution of unconscious blocks.

8. Management of discomfort and pain.

9. Increase energy, feelings of invigoration, and endurance.

10. Enhance performance skill.

Under these ten strategies Cassius and Associates may identify the specific hypnotic techniques that will allow us to accomplish the athletes goals.

EMDR

EMDR is an acronym for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an innovative clinical treatment that has successfully helped over a million individuals who have survived trauma, including sexual abuse, domestic violence, combat, crime, and those suffering from a number of other complaints including depressions, addictions, phobias and a variety of self-esteem issues.

EMDR is a complex method of psychotherapy that integrates many of the successful elements of a range of therapeutic approaches in combination with eye movements or other forms of rhythmical stimulation in ways that stimulate the brain's information processing system. With EMDR therapy it is unnecessary to delve into decades-old psychological material, but rather, by activating the information-processing system of the brain, people can achieve their therapeutic goals at a rapid rate, with recognizable changes that don't disappear over time.

The major significance of EMDR is that it allows the brain to heal its psychological problems at the same rate as the rest of the body is healing its physical ailments. Because EMDR allows minds and body to heal at the same rate, it is effectively making time irrelevant in therapy. Given its wide application, EMDR promises to be the therapy of the future.

 

 

Please Call (901)685-5491 for Questions, Concerns or Appointments. 

Most Insurance Accepted.