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John M. Rodia, J.D., M.S - Professional Counselor
"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many
are strong at the broken places."
~ Ernest Hemingway
As a professional counselor, I work shoulder-to-shoulder
with adults to help them maneuver through the often-difficult channels of life
while simultaneously dealing with unexpected or excessive pressure, difficulty,
and distress. My goal as a counselor is to help individuals learn effective and
efficient ways to work through a variety of situations that may be impacting
their mental health. Although I primarily use cognitive-behavioral techniques,
narrative therapy, and solution-focused therapy, I am a firm believer that it is
the person-counselor relationship that drives any success in the counseling
process. As such, I am adamant about establishing a safe, comfortable,
confidential, and non-judgmental relationship that fosters growth, resiliency,
and recovery. I practice unconditional positive regard, active listening,
accurate empathy, and congruence. It is these person-centered techniques that
help individuals to overcome and recover from whatever it is that brought them
to counseling.
While I have worked with people in distress for a host of reasons, I have
considerable experience in helping navigate trauma and trauma-related issues,
including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a potentially
debilitating chronic condition that can occur following an exposure to a
traumatic event and can cause significant social and occupational impairment.
More importantly, many people with PTSD also experience anxiety, depression, and
substance or alcohol abuse. As such, I am proficient in assisting individuals to
overcome these difficulties as well.
Part of my counseling experience was obtained at a half-way house working with
adults struggling with substance abuse and mental health conditions. Many of
these individuals experienced extensive trauma and their histories were replete
with addiction, incarceration, family estrangement, poor employability, and
other social ills. We worked together to rebuild their shattered lives, rewrite
their narratives, and recover from their substance use and mental health
disorders. Like PTSD, substance or alcohol use disorders often occur at the same
time as other mental health conditions. I worked with these individuals to help
them understand how the use of substances was impacting their lives and
preventing them from dealing with the underlying problems that may have been
driving their addiction.
Along with my training and counseling experience, I completed a qualitative
study on the effects of exercise on PTSD while obtaining my Master of Science
Degree in Professional Counseling. Through many interviews with people
experiencing PTSD, I obtained a deeper understanding of the role that trauma
plays in our lives and how the insidious nature of trauma and PTSD can make life
seem unbearable. As Peter Levine (2015) wrote, “Trauma shocks the brain, stuns
the mind, and freezes the body. It overwhelms its unfortunate victims and hurls
them adrift in a raging sea of torment, helplessness, and despair.” People with
PTSD often express feelings of being adrift in life and unable to get past their
trauma. I work to help individuals move past their trauma histories and towards
self-fulfillment.
If your goal is to lead a fulfilling life and to acquire the skills needed to
navigate that process, counseling may help you in your journey. I believe in the
process and look forward to working with you no matter what brings you to seek
help.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Counseling Association
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
National Association of Alcoholism Counselors and Trainers
HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional International Honor Society
HONORS
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
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