PORTSMOUTH · WARREN · TELEHEALTH STATEWIDE
Individual Therapy in Rhode Island
Individual therapy gives you one-to-one time with a mental health professional to focus on what is happening in your life, how it is affecting you, and what you want to understand or change. Lighthouse Counseling Associates offers individual therapy in Portsmouth and Warren, Rhode Island, with telehealth available statewide.
You do not need to be in crisis — or know exactly what is wrong — to reach out.
No diagnosis required
You do not need to be in crisis to begin therapy
There are many reasons to begin therapy, and you do not need to be in crisis or have a specific diagnosis before reaching out. People come to individual counseling for anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationship concerns, major life changes, emotional regulation, trauma, identity, burnout, and personal growth.
The work should be shaped around your needs rather than forcing every client into the same treatment approach. You do not have to decide which category fits best before contacting Lighthouse — the consultation process can help clarify what kind of therapist and service may be appropriate.
Reasons people seek individual counseling
You may consider individual therapy when you are dealing with any of these. You do not have to experience all of them, and you do not have to name the right one before reaching out.
01
Anxiety, worry, panic, or chronic stress
02
Depression, low mood, loss of motivation, or feeling disconnected
03
Grief, loss, illness, or caregiving stress
04
Burnout, work pressure, or difficulty setting boundaries
05
Relationship problems or recurring interpersonal patterns
06
Divorce, separation, or changes in important relationships
07
Life transitions, uncertainty, or major decisions
08
Trauma or difficult past experiences
09
Anger, frustration, or difficulty regulating emotions
10
Low self-esteem, shame, or persistent self-criticism
11
ADHD-related challenges with focus, organization, or emotional regulation
12
Identity, belonging, sexuality, or gender-related concerns
13
Substance-use concerns or difficulty changing unwanted patterns
14
Stress related to parenting or family responsibilities
15
Feeling overwhelmed even when life looks "fine" from the outside
16
Personal growth, self-understanding, or wanting a more intentional life
What is individual therapy?
The National Institute of Mental Health describes psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, as a range of treatments designed to help people identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Individual therapy usually takes place one-to-one with a mental health professional.
Individual counseling is different from talking with a friend because the therapeutic relationship is intentionally focused on your needs, goals, patterns, and well-being. A therapist can help you notice themes, ask questions, practice skills, and consider new ways of responding without requiring you to take care of the therapist in return.
What people bring to individual therapy
Anxiety, worry & stress
Anxiety can affect thoughts, sleep, concentration, relationships, physical tension, decision-making, and the ability to enjoy everyday life. Therapy may help you identify triggers and patterns, understand how thoughts and behaviors interact with anxiety, and practice different responses over time.
Relationships, boundaries & communication
Useful when relationship stress is affecting your mood, confidence, decision-making, or sense of self. If the primary goal is to work directly on the relationship with a partner, Couples Therapy may be a better or additional service.
→ Couples Therapy
Identity, self-understanding & growth
Therapy is not only for symptom reduction. Some clients want a place to think carefully about values, identity, relationships, career direction, confidence, meaning, or what they want the next stage of life to look like.
→ LGBTQIA+ Therapy
Depression & low mood
Depression can involve sadness, irritability, loss of interest, low energy, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, or feeling disconnected. Counseling can provide a place to understand what has changed and work on realistic goals for functioning and well-being.
→ Depression Therapy
Trauma & difficult experiences
Past experiences can continue to affect mood, relationships, sleep, trust, or a sense of safety long after the event ended. Individual therapy may include trauma-informed work, and Lighthouse has a dedicated page for clients specifically seeking EMDR.
→ Trauma Therapy
Grief, loss & life transitions
Loss does not only mean death. People may grieve a relationship, job, role, home, version of the future, health change, or stage of life that has ended. There is no single timetable for grief or one right way to respond to a major transition.
.
ADHD, focus & emotional regulation
Adults and young adults may seek therapy for difficulty with organization, follow-through, time management, impulsivity, overwhelm, self-criticism, or emotional regulation. Therapy supports practical coping strategies and self-understanding.
→ ADHD Therapy
Our approach to individual counseling
Lighthouse clinicians use a range of therapeutic approaches based on their training and the needs of the person in front of them. Not every therapist uses every method, and no single approach is right for every client.
01
A collaborative relationship
The relationship with your therapist matters. Rapport and trust are important because therapy involves personal conversations and works best when clients feel reasonably comfortable with the clinician and confident in their expertise. You should be able to ask questions about the therapist's approach, goals for treatment, how progress will be discussed, and what to do if the work does not feel helpful.
02
CBT, DBT & skills-based therapy
Some clinicians use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused approaches, distress-tolerance strategies, or mindfulness-based work — focusing on thought patterns, coping skills, emotional regulation, behavior change, communication, or practical problem-solving.
03
Holistic & mindfulness-based approaches
Some clients prefer therapy that pays attention to the connection between emotional health, stress, routines, relationships, values, and physical well-being. Lighthouse has clinicians with holistic-counseling and mindfulness backgrounds who integrate those perspectives.
04
Creative & experiential approaches
Some clients benefit from creative or experiential tools in addition to conversation. Professional Art Therapy is a distinct mental health service provided by an appropriately trained art therapist — clients specifically seeking it can learn more on the Art Therapy page.
05
Trauma-informed approaches
Trauma-informed counseling considers safety, pacing, trust, and how previous experiences may affect current reactions and relationships. Specialized trauma treatments should be used when clinically appropriate and by clinicians with relevant training.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What happens in the first session
The first session is usually an opportunity to understand why you are seeking therapy and whether the therapist feels like an appropriate fit. You may discuss what has been happening recently, relevant history, symptoms or patterns you want help with, what you hope will be different, previous therapy experiences, current supports and stressors, the therapist's approach, confidentiality and its limits, and scheduling.
You do not need to prepare a perfect explanation. It is okay to begin with, "I know something needs to change, but I am not sure where to start."
How long does individual therapy take?
There is no universal number of sessions that is right for everyone. Some people work on a focused concern over a shorter period. Others remain in therapy longer because the issues are more complex, longstanding, or connected to multiple areas of life.
Length can depend on the concern, goals, treatment approach, frequency, progress, outside stressors, insurance considerations, and what the client and therapist decide together.
Choosing the right individual therapist
Therapists differ in personality, training, specialties, and treatment style. A clinician can be highly qualified and still not be the best fit for every person.
Consider experience with your main concerns, preferred approach, whether you feel respected and understood, Portsmouth/Warren/telehealth availability, scheduling, insurance, age-group experience, and whether you prefer a structured, exploratory, holistic, or creative style.
Meet therapists offering individual counseling
Lighthouse has several clinicians whose current profiles specifically include individual therapy, work with adults, or one-to-one counseling approaches. Availability changes, so the intake team should confirm the best current match.
Clinician
Title
Clinician Locations
CMS CollectionCM
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
View profile →
Heading 6
Clinician LocationsCMS CollectionCM
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
View profile →
Heading 6
Clinician LocationsCMS CollectionCM
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
View profile →
Heading 6
Clinician LocationsCMS CollectionCM
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
View profile →
Individual therapy vs. other Lighthouse services
Individual therapy
Best when the main focus is your own emotions, behavior, coping, decisions, relationships, stress, or personal growth in a one-to-one setting.
Teen therapy
Best when the person seeking care is an adolescent and treatment involves developmental, family, school, identity, or privacy considerations specific to teenagers.
Couples therapy
Best when the primary goal is improving the relationship between partners and both people are participating in treatment.
Child therapy
Best when the client is a child and treatment may require developmentally appropriate play-informed strategies and greater caregiver involvement.
Family therapy
Best when the concern involves interaction patterns, communication, parenting, or relationships across the broader family system.
The intake team can help determine the best starting point if more than one service seems relevant.
Individual therapy in Portsmouth & Warren, RI
Portsmouth Office
3047 E Main Rd, Suite 4
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Serving Aquidneck Island and surrounding areas.
(401) 684-1787
Get directions →
Warren Office
3047 E Main Rd, Suite 4
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Serving Warren, Bristol, Barrington, and the East Bay.
(401) 684-1787
Get directions →
Opening hours — both offices:
Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 8 PM
Saturday: 8 AM – 2 PM
Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM
Telehealth may be available for adults and other appropriate clients throughout Rhode Island — useful for people balancing work, caregiving, transportation, health, or distance. Virtual therapy is not automatically the best option for every situation; privacy, clinical needs, technology, safety, and therapist availability all matter.
Insurance & payment
Coverage varies by plan, clinician, service, and telehealth benefit. Confirm your specific behavioral-health benefits before treatment begins.
Getting started with individual therapy
Requesting a consultation does not commit you to a specific therapist or treatment approach. It gives the intake team information that can help narrow the current options. It helps to share the main concerns you want support with, whether you prefer Portsmouth, Warren, or telehealth, your scheduling needs, insurance or self-pay preference, and any therapist characteristics or treatment approaches that are especially important to you.
Frequently asked questions
You do not have to figure everything out before starting
Some problems are difficult to understand from inside them. You may know exactly what you want help with, or you may only know that something feels off, repetitive, exhausting, or harder than it used to. Individual therapy gives you a dedicated place to slow down and decide what you want to work toward.