Family Counseling Service of Tuscaloosa Co Inc

Since 1963, Family Counseling Service has focused on improving the quality of life for the people of West Alabama by providing accessible, expert counseling services and state-of-the-art programs that promote mental, emotional and social well being.

Family Counseling specializes in counseling individuals and families facing short-term crises in their lives, but who otherwise could not afford professional counseling.

 

Tammy's Story*:  "When I began counseling, I really didn’t like the person I had become. I always felt tired and wanted to be left alone. My family was frustrated that I wouldn’t spend any time with them. It took all the energy I had just to make it through a full day at work. When I came home, I would just crash. It seemed that no matter how much sleep I got, I was always exhausted. There were lots of times I couldn’t even get a good night’s sleep, but I wasn’t sure why. My counselor at FCS helped me examine what was going on in my life. She helped me identify the sources of worry that were stealing my concentration. I learned to take control of my thinking about myself and circumstances around me. Now I feel much more satisfied with my outlook on life and the way I handle situations."

 

Jill's Story*: “I didn’t know what to do with my 14-year-old son.  He had been getting in trouble at school and even skipping classes.  He had withdrawn from the entire family since his father and I divorced.  I was really worried about the friends he was with and the kinds of things he might be involved with.  Our FCS counselor helped us begin to communicate with each other.  The counselor also helped me understand the difference between normal adolescent behavior and problem behavior.  Now, my son and I are able to talk more without feeling defensive.  And I don’t overreact when we disagree.  I can feel some of the old bonding we had when he was younger.”

 

Brenda's Story*: "Bryan and I had been married for 10 years before we came to Family Counseling Service.  Things had really gotten rocky for the five years leading up to it.  Bryan seemed  distant and withdrawn.  I felt so tired with being a mother and holding down a job, I just didn’t have the energy to focus on our relationship anymore.  We were both surprised by how much we argued.  We felt powerless.  Our FCS counselor helped us re-establish our priorities and focus on each other for a change.  He was able to help us remember that we really do love each other.  We learned to make better use of our family time and limit the things we allowed to interfere.  We’re growing closer now, and even our children seem to have a more positive attitude.”

 

John's Story*: "The first time I met with a counselor at FCS, I was very angry and defensive.  I felt like the whole world was against me.  I didn’t believe my counselor the first time she tried to explain that I had more control over my anger than I realized.  I agreed to stick with the counseling, for a while anyway.  With my counselor’s help, I eventually learned that being angry is a choice I make.  Now I have learned to manage the way I think and react to situations in a more productive way.  Even my family has noticed that I seem happier and less defensive.”

*The stories above are for illustration purposes only and do not reflect the experience of any specific client.  They do, however, represent common experiences of those helped by Family Counseling Service.

www.counselingservice.org