Harvey Hillin, Ph.D.

I have been a practicing clinical social worker since the 1970's, and I am a reviewer for the journal Contemporary Family Therapy. I earned a BA from the University of the South; an MSW from the University of Kansas; and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University.

My opinion is that when people seek counseling (or a “change of mind”), they want to increase their options or to get “un-stuck” from depressing or anxious emotional thought patterns, or habits they no longer find useful. Sometimes people wish to improve their life situation; personal relationships; solve a particular problem; make a decision; re-pattern ruminative thoughts; resolve a moral dilemma, or increase options and flexibility in coping. I practice clinical social work, employing a variety of counseling techniques from a variety of theoretical orientations based on individual needs of the person seeking change. Frequently, I use cognitive behavioral; family systems (especially the work of Virginia Satir); evidence based approaches; brief solution focused; educational; and mentoring/coaching approaches. I have also been known to use methods developed by Milton Erickson. Often I will encourage homework and practice or reading or viewing various educational videos on the internet between sessions. I will find and review the evidence based professional literature relating to your particular concerns and use that to improve my practice as we proceed together. I believe in working together to achieve mutually agreed goals, and to do so quickly and efficiently, encouraging confidence and exploration of new behaviors, with a focus on how you will know (know that you know) positive outcomes are being achieved. I use humor and will encourage you to do so as well, although I recognize humor is a very personal experience. I do NOT provide long term supportive psychotherapy (nor do I normally schedule to see anyone on a weekly basis); insight oriented therapy; or hundreds of other various specialty therapies (I do provide Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and have training from the Department of Defense Center for Deployment Psychology). If you are seeking addictions treatment, I request that you also participate in twelve step fellowship meetings (because the probability of recovery without doing so is substantially reduced). If you are seeking mental health treatment, I request that you be under the active care of a primary care physician (because many symptoms may be indicators of general medical conditions that need treatment). I do NOT provide “disability determination” services. I also do not provide advocacy in child custody disputes. I am selective about with whom I will work (and whether or not you and I agree that I will be helpful), and you would be wise to be selective too.