The Offices of Paul Dalton-Lexington Counseling & Psychiatry

27/10/2025

⭐️Provider Spotlight⭐️

Elizabeth is a Licensed Psychological Practitioner and she offers quality, up-to-date therapeutic services and psychological assessments to individuals and families.

It can be difficult to find a therapist you feel you can trust. Elizabeth strives to make every person feel heard, understood, and respected. She believes you are the expert on yourself. Elizabeth will work together with you to develop the therapeutic skills necessary to propel you forward. She typically does this using techniques drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which teaches you how to change your negative thoughts and behaviors to live a more positive and happy life. Elizabeth also loves mindfulness meditation and is happy to incorporate these practices into treatment.

Fun Facts about Elizabeth:
* She loves gardening and baking and sharing these with others
* Elizabeth loves walking her dog, Daisy, an adorable rat terrier/chihuahua
* Elizabeth loves music and has sang in choirs since she was 6 years old
* She learned how to juggle in high school and can still do it

Link to website: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/elizabeth-kaster

If you’ve ever worked with Elizabeth Kaster, LPP, and want to share your experience, use this link: https://r.emitrr.com/HMytbEXeB . Leaving a review can help others find the right therapist!

18/10/2025

Thank you for everyone that joined for our 10th Annual Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Symposium this past Thursday! We are grateful for the wonderful presenters, sponsors, great food, and being able to leave with more knowledge we can carry into our daily practice. We hope to see you all next year!

11/10/2025

Understanding your Attachment Style to Improve the Quality of your Relationships with Self and Others

Attachment Theory was developed by John Bowlby and was a theory that has been long studied which focuses on the relationship between a child and caregiver. The research shows that how we emotionally bond, how we interact with the caregiver, as well as the responsiveness of our caregiver to our needs as a child through each developmental stage can have lasting impacts on the foundation of how we develop attachments within our relationships as adults. John Bowlby categorized these into four attachment styles, which include:

-Secure attachment
-Anxious attachment
-Avoidant attachment
-Anxious avoidant (also known as disorganized) attachment

Understanding our attachment style can help us learn about why we may respond, behave, and form certain types of relationships with others. It can also help us recognize changes that may need to occur to form a more secure attachment within our interpersonal relationships. Working with a therapist in counseling can be a great tool to work towards building a more secure attachment style.

To read in more detail about each attachment style, click link to read: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/understanding-your-attachment-style-to-improve-the-quality-of-your-relationships-with-self-and-others

If you are ready to find understanding of your attachment style and improve connectedness within your relationships, call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment to work with one of our providers. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for nearly 25 years!

Supporting articles:
https://www.attachedthebook.com/wordpress/about-the-book/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/attachment-theory-and-attachment-styles
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10047625/
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attachment-theory-2795337
https://positivepsychology.com/attachment-theory/

We offer counseling, therapy, psychological, & psychiatry services in Frankfort, Lexington, and Richmond to adult, children, and adolescents. Our therapists help with marriage counseling, child and adolescent therapy, and individual therapy. Our experienced providers offer the best counseling servic...

10/10/2025

Happy World Mental Health Day 🌎

We want to thank all the providers and to each person advocating for mental health awareness around the world.

Mental health is as important as physical health because it is very intertwined to one another. Seeking help navigating your life’s journey is empowering and does not need to be seen as a weakness. Let’s continue to break the stigma and provide opportunity to show compassion and connectedness with one another.

07/10/2025

Chelsea Conner, LPCC-S, LCADC, is a licensed professional clinical counselor at our Wellington office location. Chelsea works with clients 14(+), presenting with various mental health concerns including but not limited to mood, anxiety, substance abuse, and behavioral disorders. She provides individual, marriage, and family therapy.

She utilizes evidence-based practices and therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, client centered therapy, motivational interviewing, and strength based approaches, as well as a Level 1 Gottman trained therapist. Her goal is to empower her clients to achieve their desired goals!

Fun facts about Chelsea:
-Chelsea’s favorite hobbies include reading and cycling
-Chelsea played softball in college - “Go Tigers!”
-She loves spending time with her husband, daughter, and pug during her free time!

Link to website: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/about-chelsea-conner

If you’ve ever worked with Chelsea Conner, LPCC-S, LCADC, and want to share your experience, use this link:
https://r.emitrr.com/_MFwCtLxr - Leaving a review can help others find the right therapist!

01/10/2025

The 10th Annual Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Symposium month is finally here and we are excited to inform you it is not too late to sign up even though we are a few short weeks away!

👉 Register below:
https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/ceu683d511c?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMnAKNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhqutaS6YV3pNlgzB1yKfDjhfrto33OmmKHR0bGkoUOFCQhcK9Hbfb4HkV28_aem_tE-8FmaCzdvdGXkDQ6R1-A

Date: October 16th, 2025
Time: 8:45 am - 4:30 pm (Lunch included)
Cost: $95.00 for 6 CEU’s
Training: in person only

19/09/2025

🌟 Provider Spotlight! 🌟

Kelsey Bauer-Guay, LCSW, is an independently licensed provider at our Wellington Office location who has experience with working with adolescents and adults! Kelsey helps assist individuals who are struggling with a variety of mental and behavioral health issues, as well with the substance abuse population. She utilizes evidence-based practices and therapeutic techniques including EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Modification, Mindfulness, Mood and Stress Management, Client Centered Therapy, as well as strengths and solution focused techniques.

Some fun facts about Kelsey are:
- she has been a group fitness instructor for 11 years and finds passion helping people reach their goals in a therapeutic setting, as well as in a gym setting
- She enjoys supporting local businesses and makes an effort to visit a local coffee shop in town as a weekly self care treat for herself

Link to website: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/catherine-kelsey-bauer

If you’ve ever worked with Kelsey and want to share your experience, use this link:
https://r.emitrr.com/_MFwCtLxr - Leaving a review can help others find the right therapist!

11/09/2025

It has been a great day at the KAAP conference! A wonderful conference to earn continued education with the Association for Addiction Professionals and meet with colleagues in the field.

10/09/2025

Research has shown over the years how beneficial seeking out help by a mental health professional can be through any challenge life may bring. Society is breaking the stigma of seeking out help no matter how big or small that life challenge may be. Some of the shown benefits to receiving mental health treatment:
-expanding your support network
-enhancing problem solving and critical thinking
-enhancing coping skills to alleviate symptoms impacting functioning
- improving meta-cognition
-allowing self to have assistance in making behavior adaptations
-building accountability

When deciding to start counseling for the first time, it can be nerve wracking and uncomfortable. These are normal emotions that can be felt starting this process. To help this process and ease some of these emotions, it can be useful to have an idea of what to expect starting to work with a mental health professional. At Lexington Counseling and Psychiatry here are expectations on how this process works:

1. Contacting the office and collaborating with our administrative staff to get set up with a provider that fits your needs.
2. You get access to a HIPPA complaint portal where initial paperwork will need to be filled out by you with as much detail and honesty to help your provider be best prepared for your initial appointment.
3. The initial appointment will last typically 55 minutes. This initial session will be a ‘get to know you’ session and a start to building a therapeutic relationship between you and your provider. You will identify treatment goals and discuss expectations for future sessions at the end of the initial session.

Read full article: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/the-benefits-of-therapy

Therapy is looked at as a tool in your life tool box and can be utilized whenever felt like it is needed. If you are ready to add therapy to your ‘life’ toolbox, call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment to work with one of our providers. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for nearly 25 years!

Resources:
https://mhanational.org/resources/therapy/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies
https://www.coe.edu/student-life/health-wellness/mental-health-counseling/potential-benefits-counseling
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy

We offer counseling, therapy, psychological, & psychiatry services in Frankfort, Lexington, and Richmond to adult, children, and adolescents. Our therapists help with marriage counseling, child and adolescent therapy, and individual therapy. Our experienced providers offer the best counseling servic...

03/09/2025

🌟 Provider Spotlight! 🌟

John Thacker, MRC, LPCC-S is a licensed professional clinical counselor in Kentucky. John enjoys helping people dig beneath the surface to uncover the patterns and beliefs that keep them stuck. Whether it’s anxiety that won’t let go, a heavy season of depression, or stress and relationship struggles, he helps clients move toward clarity and balance.

His approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Solution-Focused strategies. Sessions with John are practical and down-to-earth—focused not just on what’s wrong, but on what’s strong. He believes in creating a safe, judgment-free space where people can show up as they are and grow into who they want to be.

Fun facts about John:
-He tends to overwater his 50+ houseplants
-His dog, Worm, and his cat, Lynx, keep him company at home
-He’s happiest when he’s outdoors

Link to website: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/john-thacker

If you’ve ever worked with John and want to share your experience, use this link: https://r.emitrr.com/XroAAFWEV - Leaving a review can help others find the right therapist!

09/07/2025

How to Successfully Implement and Make Lasting Habit Changes

A habit is defined by the American Association of Psychology as a’ well-learned behavior or automatic sequence of behaviors that is relatively situation specific and over time has become motorically reflexive and independent of motivational or cognitive influence - that is, it is performed, with little or no conscious intent’. Statistically, studies have shown that 43% of what we do on a daily basis is done habitually. Studies have also shown that it can take an average of 2 months to 9 months to form a new habit and break old ones. As we come to the second half of this year, it is time to check in with our habits and goals.

When evaluating the habits that are effective and ineffective in our lives, a helpful tool for building awareness is by engaging in a tracker of logging current habits and reflecting if they are helpful or barriers to our current goals. After recognizing the habits you’d like to change, the next step is to prioritize which to start with. It is important to only start with 1 to 2 habits at a time. Attempting to change all recognized unhealthy habits at once can lead to burn out and have a less chance of successful change long term. Other strategies that can be useful are habit stacking and habit formulation. Habit stacking is an effective strategy to use when you are trying to implement a new behavior into your routine to make it easier for us to remember and implement. Habit formulation includes understanding how a habit is successfully formed, specifically through three components - cue, behavior, reward.

-Cue = what triggers and initiates the habit
-Behavior = the habit
-Reward = the reinforcement of the habit

When we understand the components of a habit then we can start making adaptive changes to our behaviors and lead us to accomplishing our goals, as well as a more fulfilled life. Call our office at 859.338.0466 if you're needing assistance to help rebuild healthier habits and finish this year off strong! Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years!

To read full article: https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/how-do-you-implement-lasting-habit-changes

Articles and Resources:
https://dictionary.apa.org/habit
https://jamesclear.com/habit-stacking
https://jamesclear.com/new-habit
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/
https://positivepsychology.com/how-habits-are-formed/
https://positive.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Building-New-Habits.pdf

We offer counseling, therapy, psychological, & psychiatry services in Frankfort, Lexington, and Richmond to adult, children, and adolescents. Our therapists help with marriage counseling, child and adolescent therapy, and individual therapy. Our experienced providers offer the best counseling servic...

18/06/2025

According to the ADAA, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly 1 in 10 men experience anxiety or depression, but less than half seek help. Statistically, men are 4x more likely to die by su***de than women. The research determines the reasoning behind this is due to men using methods that are more harmful, experience more impulsivity, and exhibit fewer warning signs.

Some warning signs of a decline in someone’s mental health can include:
-Agressiveness/irritability
-A “shorter fuse”/ impulsive behaviors
-A decline in changes in energy levels/mood
-A change in appetite (decrease or increase)
-Inadequate sleep
-A decline in concentration
-Increase worry or constant feeling of being on edge
-Self medication with substances
-Physical health impacts - aches, pains, digestive issues
-Isolation from peers/family
-Persistent feelings of hopelessness
-Decline in enjoyment in activities/hobbies
-Obsessive thoughts and rumination
-Thoughts about death/su***de

Mental health professionals available can range from psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, and social workers. Working with a professional that you feel secure, heard, and your needs are being met is significantly beneficial to the felt results of your treatment. Asking questions like these can be beneficial to deciding who would or is the right fit for you:

-Do I prefer a female or male provider?
-Does my provider’s schedule meet my schedule’s needs?
-Do I feel heard, comfortable, and seen when working with the provider?
-Do I feel like my provider is understanding my mental health needs?
-Have my symptoms improved since starting treatment?
-Have I learned strategies and coping skills to improve my quality of life?

At Lexington Counseling and Psychiatry we are breaking the stigma that finding treatment is not seen as a weakness for men. Call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment with one of our providers if you are ready to start your healing journey. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years!

Read full article: ​
​ https://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/mental-health-awareness-in-men

Articles and Resources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health
https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health
https://www.aamc.org/news/men-and-mental-health-what-are-we-missing
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

We offer counseling, therapy, psychological, & psychiatry services in Frankfort, Lexington, and Richmond to adult, children, and adolescents. Our therapists help with marriage counseling, child and adolescent therapy, and individual therapy. Our experienced providers offer the best counseling servic...