Waters Counseling, PLLC

02/16/2023

If you're not already convinced, here's why going to therapy is one of the best things you can do for yourself:

Therapy can improve your relationships. By exploring patterns in your behavior and communication, you can learn how to build healthier relationships and communicate more effectively. This can have a positive impact on all areas of your life, from family and friends to coworkers and partners.
Therapy can help you achieve your goals. Whether you're struggling with motivation or simply feeling stuck, therapy can help you identify your values and set achievable goals. By developing a plan of action with your therapist, you can start taking steps toward the life you want to lead.
Therapy can improve your physical health. The mind and body are intimately connected, and improving your mental health can have a positive impact on your physical health as well. By managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, you may find that your physical health improves as well.
Therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Contrary to popular belief, seeking therapy is not a sign of weakness. It takes courage to confront your challenges and ask for help. Going to therapy is a powerful act of self-care and self-improvement.
You deserve to be happy. Life is too short to spend it feeling miserable, anxious, or unfulfilled. You deserve to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life, and therapy can help you get there.
In short, going to therapy is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It's an investment in your health, happiness, and overall wellbeing. So why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

02/13/2023

Mental health therapy has become increasingly mainstream and widely adopted in recent years, and the truth is, it's life-changing. From trauma, to depression, to anxiety, therapy has been an effective way for people to explore and understand their feelings and emotions, as well as improve their relationships.

In the past, many viewed therapy as something to be ashamed of or something that wasn't necessary. But as the stigma surrounding mental health has lessened, and more and more people are realizing that therapy is a valuable tool in improving their mental health and quality of life.

The internet and the rise of social media also plays a huge role in making mental health therapy more mainstream. Through online communities, people can find support and understanding without judgement. Additionally, the development of mental health apps has allowed people to access therapy from the comfort of their homes. This helps to reduce the fear and stigma associated with going to therapy.

Bottom line is, Mental health therapy is an important part of self-care and wellbeing, and it’s here to stay.

By understanding our relationships and the inner workings of the mind, we can create a better future for ourselves.

02/13/2023

Therapy for personality disorders is often the first step to becoming healthier and more content. Therapists who specialize in this area have a unique insight into the inner workings of the mind and can help individuals to better understand and manage their symptoms. Whether they are seeking help online or in-person, therapy can be an invaluable resource for those with a personality disorder.

The goal of therapy for personality disorders is to help individuals gain insight into their behavior, thought patterns, and feelings. A therapist can help a person learn how to manage their emotions and build healthy coping strategies to deal with difficult life situations. They can also teach individuals how to identify and change destructive patterns of behavior.

Therapy can involve individual, group, or family sessions. In-person therapy is beneficial because it helps build relationships with the therapist, which can be key to making progress. It also allows for face-to-face dialogue, which can be easier than discussing your feelings through a computer screen. Online therapy has its own advantages, however. It offers more flexibility in scheduling and may be more affordable for some.

The therapist will work with the individual to develop a treatment plan. This may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT), or other forms of therapy. These therapies focus on changing thought patterns and behaviors to create healthier ways of coping. Medication may also be prescribed if necessary.

No matter the type of therapy chosen, it is important that the individual is comfortable with the therapist and feels comfortable discussing their feelings and experiences. A therapist online or in-person can be a great asset to those who are struggling with a personality disorder. With the right support, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms and find healthier ways to cope.

04/24/2022

Website is live!

Therapist in Boca Raton - Specializing in adolescents and adults struggling with mental health, substance use disorders, relapse, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Personality Disorders, and relationship issues. Reach out today for a free consultation.

04/13/2022

Let's face it, navigating life's challenges alone can be tough. Would you realistically walk down a dark alley with no roadmap, no torch, and no guide? Of course not! So why do we so often try to go it alone on the greatest journey we'll ever take?

At Waters Counseling, we realize that 21st century challenges call for a different take on traditional therapy- one that is built on a foundation of research, compassion, practical tools, and first-hand experience. It requires a passionate therapist who is willing to thinking out of the box, try something new, and walk alongside you on your journey, rather than sit behind a desk and offer platitudes.

At Waters Counseling, we specialize in helping individuals find hope and healing from anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, relationship challenges, and host of other obstacles that today's world may throw in our paths. We are here to help you find a brand new perspective and offer you the tools and personalized strategies you need to move forward in life with a sense of peace, purpose, and confidence.

Whether you're in need of individual, adolescent, couples, group, or even online therapy, we're on a mission to ensure that everyone has access to the vital resources and expert support they need to thrive.

If you're ready to start feeling your best and finally put an end to the negative thinking, self-doubt, and anxiety that's been holding you back, we're here to help. No one wants a cookie cutter life, so why settle for a one-size-fits all therapist?

Start your journey towards a more fulfilling life and contact us today to set up an obligation-free appointment.

03/24/2022

03/20/2022

About Andrew Waters
Licensed Mental Health Therapist

Now accepting new clients in Florida. In person or online.

Would you believe that I almost went to law school?

Being drawn to intelligence, I try to surround myself with inspiring people. It’s allowed me to emulate a lot of their skills and make them my own. I remember being a high-school student, struggling with life, enmeshed with unhealthy friends, my priorities got rearranged and I considered my education a nuisance. I was blessed with a brilliant tutor, a bit older than me, who was becoming a doctor. He inspired my passion for writing and education. This happened through his modeling of the art and his thinking out loud. Later, in college, I’d catch myself using his “word-smithing” techniques and from there, I realized the value of being exposed to gifted teachers. Talent and skill are contagious!

As a curious and persistent “truth seeker,” law was a natural interest, and if I’m being honest, legal dramas on TV in my younger years also got my attention. Learning and understanding the world gave me a sense of security and confidence in myself that didn’t exist before.

Philosophically, the idea that laws, essentially words on a piece of paper, command order from chaos, sufficient to establish and maintain society is fascinating to me.

That, despite huge differences of opinion, somehow the principles have prevented a fall into complete tyranny.

So… why did I become a therapist?

I gave the law an honest shot. I decided to complete a Paralegal program – at this time, living in Toronto, Canada, where Paralegals can practice without the supervision of a lawyer, appear in small claims court, agencies, tribunals and boards. I still maintain the license as I can’t bear giving it up. The certificate is just too nice!

I did work in the field and was planning to attend law school after getting my BA. But, I realized through practicing that I wasn’t happy with some of the ethical conundrums – sometimes, finding myself on the wrong side of my conscience. Confident that I didn’t want the challenge that the profession posed to my character, I decided to change course.

I decided that being a therapist was a good fit. My passion was more than just the law, it was understanding people.

Law and psychology share the ability to animate ideas with life. Lawmakers bring bills to life, whereas the human mind turns ideas into self-fulfilling prophesies. Acknowledging the danger that harmful thoughts pose to health, I realized that I needed to help people put their thoughts on trial!

I feel I have a deep comprehension of pain.

I had my own issues growing up including, impulsivity, anxiety, substances and social challenges, resulting in a fair share of painful lessons. After many false starts, I was able to sustain momentum in recovery since 21 years old. Immaturity and low self-esteem led me to seek validation from unhealthy kids. I confused the present moment with permanent reality. I had no idea that I was going through “growing pains” and that the parts of myself that I hated were ultimately just un-developed aspects of my personality. Looking back, I think I had a hard time accepting that I wasn’t one of the “cool kids” and didn’t want to embrace my identity as a nerd. A profound life lesson here was that, failure to accept reality results in suffering. As much as I wanted to be like the people I classified as “cool”, it wouldn’t change me. Instead, every time reality re-asserted itself, I would be injured again. Recovery began when I started to take responsibility and accept myself as is.

My style is unique and creative.

I prefer to think outside the box and dive deep into understanding why things are as they are. As an example, I recently started working with a young man with addiction and a bevy of mental health diagnoses. He had been to treatment programs all over the country and hadn’t been able to get any momentum. I was the first professional to not advise further treatment, as there isn’t a program anywhere that would get him what he needed to succeed, a life. Therefore, I took on the case and assisted him in doing just that - he’s now in school, working, and managing to put together some sober time, all without any additional outrageously expensive programs – that may have actually delayed recovery.

In order to put up with the pains of change, building a compelling future is immensely important and needs to happen as soon as possible. One of the best relapse prevention strategies is to build a life that you would never give up.

Many claim that they offer individualized care, but very few follow through with helping meet the needs of the client. I make it a priority!

As a therapist, I try my best to identify the issues and then create meaningful interventions overcome them. Different things will work for different people. I work hard with my clients to find strategies and apply them.

Some of my education and experience…

I got my bachelor’s degree in Talmudic Studies (Jewish Religious Studies) in New York. The degree focused on the principles of Jewish thought and ethics. I was inspired by the learning, and favored texts on self-development derived from wisdom thousands of years old. The insight is without question still relevant to the modern person.

There really is “nothing new under the son.” ~ King Solomon A.K.A. The wisest person in the world.

I decided to move my family to Minnesota and complete my master’s degree in Addiction and Mental Health Counseling at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. After graduation, I worked at the Betty Ford Foundation Addiction Treatment Center (for teens and young adults) in Plymouth, where I spent 3.5 years working with adolescents.

In 2018, I joined the team at NUWAY Minneapolis, a community-based adult residential setting providing treatment to adult clients with severe mental health needs, chemical dependency, socioeconomic stressors, and complex legal concerns.

Recently, my wife and I agreed to relocate to Florida with our three kids. We had considered NY for a long time, being that I’m from Toronto and my wife is from Brooklyn. However, things kept on getting in the way, and it never worked out. We decided that if we are going to be away from our families, we should at least be somewhere that they’d want to visit us. Naturally, Florida came to mind and has proven to be a good choice. After all, who doesn’t take a vacation to Florida?

When I’m not doing therapy…

When I’m not doing my work as a therapist, I can be found at home with my wife and three boys. Sometimes building lego sets, and others playing with our dog, Blue (an Australian Shepherd).

Let’s work together and end this cycle of misery!

Asking for help can be the most challenging part. There are a lot of unknowns and uncertainty about taking this step. I hope this page allowed you to gain more insight into who I am. I love what I do and have been privileged to help a lot of people live more fulfilling lives. I extend the same offer to you! If you feel that we might be a good fit, please contact me. Consultations are always free and there’s no obligation to make a commitment. Take a healthy risk! Call today…

Phone 561-717-3227
andrew@wcounseling.org

Therapist in Boca Raton - Specializing in adolescents and adults struggling with mental health, substance use disorders, relapse, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Personality Disorders, and relationship issues. Reach out today for a free consultation.