Share via email
Scott Wiley is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of South Dakota and nationally certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. He is also an ordained minister of The Wesleyan Church denomination and has over 30 years of pastoral experience. Scott has been trained from both secular and Christian perspectives and has nearly 20 years of clinical experience in both realms.
My approach
Based on the goals you to the table, I draw heavily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including its offshoots, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. For PTSD I adapt Cognitive Processing Therapy. For couples I use a variation of Emotionally Focused Therapy based on Attachment Theory. All of this is undergirded by a robust biblical Christian worldview and evangelical theological training.
My focus
About half of my clientele have a faith orientation in Christianity. However, the other half are from all walks of life and belief systems, including agnostic and atheist. I typically work with adults individually or as couples for relationship counseling. My specialty is relationships and have published a book about it. The other most common issues I counsel for are depression, anxiety, anger, and men's sexual addiction.
My communication style
I like to think I'm warm, friendly, and just natural. I seem to be pretty good at putting people at ease sitting in the session with me. I tend to be cheerful but not overbearingly so. I can laugh with clients when they are in the mood, and I can sit with them in the pain when it's hurting. I think most people find that it's comfortable to work with me.
My goals for you
I will ask you sometime during the first session, "What is your goal for counseling? What do you hope to take away from it? What kind of outcome do you hope for?" If you have a whole list, I'll ask, "Which of these does it seem like we should start with?" We will talk out how to formulate the goal so that it's specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely enough to be workable.
My first session with you
We'll start with a warm greeting like you would with anyone else in life. Then I'll just have you talk about your background a little bit, what brought you to counseling, and what you hope to get out of it. Depending on time, we may jump into an orientation to the type of therapy that seems most appropriate, and possibly get started on some kind of activity to do at home.
