--- title: Therapy Focused on Empowering and Change description: God, sometimes calls on us to face spontaneous changes. Often, when we are seeking therapy, we are seeking something different. image: https://reallifecounseling.us/hubfs/A%20person%20in%20silhouette%20with%20their%20arms%20up%20in%20a%20victorious%20gesture%20stands%20on%20the%20side%20of%20a%20mountain%20at%20sunset.png --- [Skip to content](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/therapy-focused-empowering-change#main-content) [Current Clients Homepage ](https://reallifecounseling.us/rlc-client-homepage) [Emergency? Click Here for Crisis Help](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-crisis-help-page) [![Final Brand Color_Horizontial Logo copy 12](https://reallifecounseling.us/hubfs/Final%20Brand%20Color_Horizontial%20Logo%20copy%2012.svg "Final Brand Color_Horizontial Logo copy 12")](https://reallifecounseling.us/) - [About Us](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/therapy-focused-empowering-change#) Show submenu for About Us - [Careers](https://reallifecounseling.us/employment) - [Getting Started ](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/therapy-focused-empowering-change#) Show submenu for Getting Started - [How to get started.](https://reallifecounseling.us/getting-started-with-rlc) - [Providers](https://reallifecounseling.us/counselors) - [Support](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/therapy-focused-empowering-change#) Show submenu for Support - [Services](https://reallifecounseling.us/services) - [Current Clients](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/therapy-focused-empowering-change#) Show submenu for Current Clients - [Client Portal](https://rlc.reliatrax.net/ClientPortal) [Request an Appointment ](https://reallifecounseling.us/get-started) # Therapy Focused on Empowering and Change ![A person in silhouette with their arms up in a victorious gesture stands on the side of a mountain at sunset](https://reallifecounseling.us/hubfs/A%20person%20in%20silhouette%20with%20their%20arms%20up%20in%20a%20victorious%20gesture%20stands%20on%20the%20side%20of%20a%20mountain%20at%20sunset.png) # In Hebrews 11:8, > Abraham obeys when he is called out from his home by God, even though this must have been difficult for him not knowing exactly where he was being sent. God, sometimes  calls on us to face these kinds of spontaneous changes. Often, when we are seeking therapy, we are seeking something different in our lives, seeking a change or, for how to cope with a change. Whether it is due to grief, past trauma, anxiety, depression, or marital conflict, it is easy to feel stuck. Miraculous change does not happen at one hour, once a week. I encourage my clients to take a more proactive approach. I encourage you and empower you to work through what we discuss in session, throughout the week, by reading suggested handouts and/or books and working towards personal goals set within these session. Although each session is personalized, generally speaking, the first step in therapy is to become aware of the problem. Often, the problem is reinforced by the cycle of automatic, negative, self-talk and selective attention. Selective attention is the focus on negative or discouraging things that reinforce your negative thoughts or problems.  Many times, you are unaware of the automatic thoughts and selective attention that keeps you “stuck” in a cycle that keeps you from moving forward. Once awareness  on how much time is spent on the problem, we can change the automatic self-talk and selective attention to what we want out of our lives.  For example, we may start to think “if these issues did not exist, how would my life be different? or How did I make it for so long, maybe I am not as incapable as I thought?” I will help you discover your strengths by pointing out how you have the ability to cope (as you have survived thus far). Together, we will focus on your desired outcomes and preferred future, and then set goals to help you achieve this outcome in order to move forward. We can set realistic goals together to help challenge those initial thoughts and the behaviors that often result from these negative thoughts. Like, if you thought, “I can’t go to the store without people judging me, that is why I never go grocery shopping.” We are able to begin challenging that idea and bring awareness the selective attention you feel towards the one or two people who gave a mean look. Together we will then begin to set a goal; for example, stay focused and walk through the store for 5 minutes, and then reevaluate those feelings. > Challenging our beliefs and thoughts often results in long term change, as it also effects our self-concept, we begin to expand our faith and realize we are more capable than we initially thought. I would love to work with you to promote this personalized change in your life. [Depression Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/depression-issues), [Anxiety Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/anxiety-issues), [Family Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/family-issues), [Grief and Loss Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/grief-and-loss-issues), [Coaching](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/coaching), [Couples Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/couples-issues), [Children Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/children-issues), [Mens Issues](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/tag/mens-issues) Share On: [Follow us on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com) [Follow us on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com) [Follow us on Twitter ](https://www.twitter.com) [Follow us on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com) [![Final Brand Color_Horizontial Logo copy 12](https://reallifecounseling.us/hubfs/Final%20Brand%20Color_Horizontial%20Logo%20copy%2012.svg "Final Brand Color_Horizontial Logo copy 12")](https://reallifecounseling.us/) ## Get in Contact with us ## Front Desk: 360-619-2226 Fax Line: 360-326-9691 [**Locations**](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-locations) East Vancouver - 1498 SE Tech Center PL, Suite 300 Vancouver WA  98683 Salmon Creek - 2501 NE 134th Street, Suite 201 Vancouver WA  98686 West Vancouver - 3606 Main Street, Suite 205 Vancouver WA  98663 Battle Ground - 105 West Main Street Suites 205 & 207   Battle Ground WA, 98604  Spokane - 316 West Boone Ave Suite 377 Spokane, WA 99201 ## Useful Links [Insurance & Payment](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-insurance-resource-page) [Request Appointment](https://reallifecounseling.us/get-started) [Find a Counselor](https://reallifecounseling.us/counselors) [Real Life Community Behavioral Health](https://www.reallifecbh.com/) [How to become a client](https://reallifecounseling.us/getting-started-with-rlc) [Current Client Homepage](https://reallifecounseling.us/current-client-home-page) [My Health Data Act ](https://reallifecounseling.us/my-health-data-act) ## Services [Individuals](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-services-for-individuals) [Couples ](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-services-for-couples) [Teens ](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-services-for-teens) [Children](https://reallifecounseling.us/real-life-counseling-services-for-children) [ Client Portal Login ](https://rlc.reliatrax.net/ClientPortal) ## About [Our Story](https://reallifecounseling.us/about-us-jen) [Resources](https://reallifecounseling.us/community-resources) [Our Services](https://reallifecounseling.us/services) [Blog](https://reallifecounseling.us/blog) [Career Opportunities](https://reallifecounseling.us/employment) ![Screenshot 2025-09-29 at 9.05.07 PM](https://reallifecounseling.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-09-29%20at%209.05.07%20PM.png?width=100&height=153&name=Screenshot%202025-09-29%20at%209.05.07%20PM.png "Screenshot 2025-09-29 at 9.05.07 PM") [ Provider // Staff Login ](https://reallifecounseling.us/staff/1099-page) ## Interested in partnering with RLC or joining our resource database? Contact us at: rlc-marketing@reallifecounseling.us   © 2026 REAL LIFE COUNSELING  |  [Privacy Policy ](https://20047855.hs-sites.com/real-life-counseling-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joseph Klemz", "url" : "https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/author/joseph-klemz" }, "dateModified" : "2023-06-20T22:53:53.155Z", "datePublished" : "2016-01-31T06:00:55.000Z", "headline" : "Therapy Focused on Empowering and Change", "image" : [ "https://reallifecounseling.us/hubfs/A%20person%20in%20silhouette%20with%20their%20arms%20up%20in%20a%20victorious%20gesture%20stands%20on%20the%20side%20of%20a%20mountain%20at%20sunset.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://reallifecounseling.us/blog/therapy-focused-empowering-change", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://reallifecounseling.us/hubfs/unnamed.png" }, "name" : "Real Life Counseling, PLLC" } } ```