My Approach to Helping

I believe that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is key to forming a strong therapeutic bond that will help the client feel safe enough to delve into the issues at hand and to explore uncharted territory. When there is trust, knowledge, and unconditional positive regard from the therapist--then true learning, healing, and change can and will occur. In my practice, I encourage people to take healthy and insightful steps but to go at their own pace so that the client finds new and innovative ways to approach self, relationships, and life.

 

More Info About My Practice

I specialize in helping singles have more meaningful dating relationships as well as guiding people to have better, more fufilling relationships with their partners!

In addition, I treat people in crisis, who are dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship and/or self-esteem issues.

Choosing a therapist can be a difficult process, especially when you are overwhelmed and are worried that therapy could be a waste of time, money, and emotional energy.

It is important to choose a therapist who will be non-judgmental yet will be able to help you in many different capacities no matter where you are on your journey toward feeling better.
I believe in an interactive yet non-obtrusive approach to therapy. I offer years of experience working with individual adults and children as well as families and couples.

In my therapeutic practice it is very important that the person or people in my office feel safe, connected, and see progress and renewed hope within their lives. You the client should feel free to discuss anything without feeling judged by your psychotherapist.

Therapy is a time to forget social conformities and to allow yourself the freedom to explore new ways of discovery, expression, and communication.
The key to real progress in therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist.

A therapist is not there to be your friend, but should be someone with whom you feel comfortable, someone who respects your individuality, views, opinions and someone who is able to encourage you to become healthier, less anxious, less angry, less depressed, less confused, more confident, and more emotionally available.
Your therapist should also not be afraid to confront you when you lapse into old habits or thought processes.

Working with individual adults or children requires different therapeutic skills than working with couples or families.
I view each session as an opportunity for my client or clients to begin to unravel the patterns in their lives that may not serve them well anymore.

Therapeutic methods include talking freely, playing (not necessarily confined to childrens therapy), collaborative work, as well as some homework.

I have seen people change when they believed they could not. Come and learn to live again--or perhaps for the first time--to your fullest capacity.

 

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

Yes, I feel adept in helping people have better dating and or longterm relationships. Often, we tend do alot of self-sabotaging when it come to our dating as well as in relationships. It is key to be able to identify what might make a person act out in ways that are not helpful and to work with the person on finding new and healthy ways of coping so that healthy relationships will happen and can be sustained.

 

How Psychotherapy Can Help

The ability to connect with your therapist is key to being able to make healty and positive changes. Through this relationship, healthy change is possible.

 

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

I believe the purpose of psychotherapy is to be able to learn how to stop repeating old habits that do not help us and to form new ways of doing things that will help us achieve our absolute potential in a safe and healthy way.

 

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

I love being a therapist because it is such a privilege to be able to be in a room with a person or couple and to hear the most intimate details of their lives and to be able to help play a role in making their life/lives more meaningful, successful, and rewarding. I love that I get to witness, on a regular basis, the process of change and the journey of personal success on many levels.

 

My Role as a Therapist

To provide a safe setting to explore feelings, thoughts, and preferences in a non-judgemental atmosphere. Also, to offer my insights when needed and merited.

 

My Therapy Focus

Working with people to help them achieve happiness and a true sense of accomplishment on an emotional level that will play out in all areas of their lives.

 

What I Usually Need to Know to Help

What key issues you would like to work on and what brought you into my office today.

 

My Guiding Ethical Principles

Do no harm. Have good intentions. Have integrity and draw from my expertise.

 

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

Check therapy out. Make sure you like your therapist, otherwise it's a waste of time. Commit to at least a couple of months to start seeing changes in behaviors/patterns. Go because you have goals to work on and know that therapy is a process that can really, really help!

 

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

Bad therapy is for sure worse than no therapy. People who have had the bad luck of having a bad therapist have a good reason to feel negative in regards to therapy. But just as bad therapy really stinks, good therapy can make all the difference as well and can really help people to become unstuck.

 

Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist

Goodness of fit. Meaning that one should feel not only comfortable with their therapist but also like them in addition to feeling safe with their therapist's credentials and education.

 

How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist

Yes, of course. With any challange that is not only "just survived" but overcome, it is an opportunity of great emotional growth both as a human being and as a therapist.

 

Theoretical Influences that Guide My Work

Every person has a different way of being. I try to match different styles of therapy to help people get the most out of therapy. I would say my top 3 theoretical influences that I draw from are:
Psychodynamic, where we look alot at past history and established patterns and ways of doing things that are playing out in the present.
Humanistic: where there is complete respect towards the person who is seeking treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral: Working on re-establishing thought patterns to change behavioral patterens.
These 3 theoretical styles work well together in fully addressing each person's indivial needs.

 

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

I am very real and offer a safe place for each person to explore their strengths and weaknesses at their own pace. I strongly believe that not only is it important to have a safe atmosphere, but also to give people enough "tools" to handle going through therapy. The goal is to help people not to retraumatize people by having them go too quickly (or too slowly) through dealing with pain and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Services I Provide

• Individual Therapy & Counseling
• Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Coaching

Ages I Work With

• Children
• Teens
• Adults
• Elders

Languages I Speak

• English

Groups I Work With

I have years of experience working with diverse populations.

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy /REBT
• Collaborative Therapy / Collaborative Language Systems
• Conflict Resolution Therapy
• Emotion Focused Couples Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Gottman Method
• Object Relations
• Psychodynamic
• Solution Focused Therapy
• Systems Theory /Therapy
• Theraplay

Concerns and Issues I Help With

• Abandonment
• Abortion / Post Abortion Issues
• Abuse / Abuse Survivor Issues
• Academic Concerns
• Adjusting to Change / Life Transitions
• Adoption / Reunion Issues
• Aging & Geriatric Issues
• Agoraphobia
• Anxiety
• Attachment Issues
• Blended Family Issues
• Cancer
• Career Choice
• Caregiver Issues / Stress
• Child and/or Adolescent Issues
• Codependency / Dependency
• Communication Problems
• Control Issues
• Creative Blocks
• Depression
• Divorce / Divorce Adjustment
• Domestic Violence
• Eating & Food Issues
• Emotional Abuse
• Emotional Intelligence
• Emotional Overwhelm
• Emptiness
• Family of Origin Issues
• Family Problems
• Fear
• Fertility Issues
• Forgiveness
• Grief, Loss, & Bereavement
• Habits
• Health / Illness / Medical Issues
• Helplessness / Victimhood
• HIV / AIDS
• Identity Issues
• Inadequacy
• Inattention, Impulsivity, & Hyperactivity (ADHD)
• Infidelity / Affair Recovery
• Irritability
• Isolation
• Learning Difficulties
• LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender) Issues
• Life Purpose / Meaning / Inner-Guidance
• Midlife Crisis / Midlife Transition
• Mood Swings / Mood Disturbance
• Multicultural Concerns
• Oppositional & Defiant Behavior in Children & Teens
• Other - Not Listed Here
• Panic
• Parenting
• Physical Abuse
• Post Partum Depression
• Pre-Marital Counseling
• Pregnancy & Birthing
• Prejudice / Discrimination
• Relationships & Marriage
• Religious Issues
• Self-Care
• Self-Confidence
• Self-Criticism
• Self-Doubt
• Self-Esteem
• Self-Harm
• Self-Love
• Sensitivity to Criticism
• Sexual Abuse
• Shame
• Social Anxiety / Phobia
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Suicidal Ideation & Behavior
• Suspiciousness / Paranoia
• Trust Issues
• Values Clarification
• Women's Issues
• Workplace Issues
• Worry
• Worthlessness