Balance Within LLC



 

   
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


 
 

 

 

 

 

Balance Within LLC   |   normajean@balancewithinllc.com  |  phone: 203.213.6789