
Psychotherapy, Marriage & Family Therapy, Pastoral Counseling
I'm a licensed professional.
I am a certified Fellow in the Am. Assn. of Pastoral Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapist - 008973
I am experienced in helping individuals and couples for whom their faith tradition is central to them be able to use and integrate those sources of health in their faith in the service of their growth and healing. In this context, I have worked with people from an enormous variety and a wide spectrum of religious beliefs. Perhaps reflective of our nation's balance of Christians to non-Christians (the former being roughly 80 to 85% of our population), most of my religious-rooted clients are from one of the Christian traditions. I've also worked with Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, as well as Jews, humanists, atheists. Within this is another specialty of having worked a great deal with parish clergy. As may be apparent from this, I do not expect or require anyone to adhere to any particular religious or biblical perspective. The only place that comes close to a universal for those with deep faith is an understanding of God as an unlimited and unstoppable source of love and acceptance. A second near-universal is the acceptance of our individual ability to make our own decisions (free will) for better (hopefully) or worse.
At the initial session if someone indicates they have had a bad experience in previous therapy, I ask them to tell me what it was that made it bad or wrong for them. I have been amazed at some of the things I have heard. I've heard about therapists repeatedly falling asleep in front of clients, talking at length about their own current problems, telling someone in the first session or two that he/she should end the marriage. Others have said their therapist just listened, never said anything, that nothing happened; or the opposite, that the therapist was too directive. What I say varies depending upon the information shared and how it is shared. If it is an obvious problem (falling asleep, talking about oneself), I most often will validate by saying that, yes, this should not have happened. I also tell them (as I tell anyone in the first session) that if I do or say something or suggest to them to do something that makes them uncomfortable or raises a question, to let me know, either on the spot or in a future session. I explain that sometimes their reaction to something I've done can lead to something quite important; or, if I've made a mistake, it gives me an opportunity to apologize and make amends. I also explain that it is very important we keep our relationship open and working so clearing up problem areas is essential for success.
Office 1:
5475 N. Fresno St Suite 109
Fresno, CA 93710 United States
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