Individuals
Above all, I strive to help my clients fully see their strengths and gifts. Because I understand that seeing a therapist can evoke feelings of vulnerability, I strive from the outset to convey the respect and warmth I feel; for me, it is an honor to be able to know people so deeply, and to walk with them on a leg of their life journey. As your therapist, I will be fully committed to your growth and well-being.
In spite of their assets, people usually seek help because something in their lives is not working. I want to help people seek solutions to whatever is keeping them stuck. I will ask you to think about what your life would be like, both internally and externally, if therapy were “wildly successful.” From this vision, we would work to establish goals—goals we can break down into small steps and actively work on.
- Between-Session Practice
If you have the time and energy, we will generate ideas for between-session practice, along with ways to track your progress. - Identifying Barriers
We will analyze everything—your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and environment—that blocks your forward movement, and then generate concrete, workable plans to get past these barriers.
I believe that the change process is difficult, but possible, and that change is not simply a matter of willpower. It comes about when we set up our lives so that enough variables are in place—internal ones (like realistic expectations, supportive thoughts, and helpful reactions to our own emotions) and external ones (like other people, deadlines, motivators, and structure)—to make change inevitable.
Exploring Past Experiences
For some people, distress may be connected to experiences or relationships in the past. In that case, it may be more useful to take time to fully unpack the details and emotions surrounding those events, to gain insight into how they impact you now. I will listen with compassion and help you recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that no longer serve you well.
Acceptance and Finding Peace
On the other hand, many things in our lives are beyond our control. Here, we would focus on acceptance, and on finding some measure of peace and quality of life in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Collaboration and Transparency
I strive to be collaborative and transparent. I will share with you how I am thinking about the work we are doing, and will be asking you for your feedback and input each step of the way.
By blending warmth, respect, solution-focused methods, deeper exploration of past experiences, and a commitment to acceptance where needed, my goal is to help you create meaningful and lasting changes in your life.