Helping People Find Therapists & Advocating for Ethical and Healthy Therapy & Marriage Counseling Practices

My Approach to Helping

I believe that life is meant to be fully enjoyed with limitless ideas and possibilities. Sometimes circumstances, choices and just plain life messes with those ideals. I work with people to understand their life situation and to help them find the best options for improving and healing their own lives, which, and in turn, often heals the relationships around them as well. So my approach is gentle and insightful, using humor and compassion as motivation and encouragement through the tougher places of challenge and change.

 

More Info About My Practice

FUNLife, llc is set up to help you both afford and understand the costs associated with counseling. We will help you understand your insurance policy and bill it for you. We offer fee-adjustment and payment plans so that you can get the support you need even when working within your personal financial budget and will accept cash, checks, credit cards and HAS cards for payment. If you take care of the troubles when they are small, the costs are usually less too. So, take a step today and get the support you are looking for.

 

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

The purpose of psychotherapy is to bring healing and growth to our brains – a bit like physical therapy brings healing and growth to specific muscles that are not working in sync with our body – psychotherapy brings healing and growth to the parts of our brain that are not working in sync with the world within or around us. So psychotherapy is both the understanding of what part of the brain is not working and the exercises, knowledge and behaviors needed and practiced to help your brain heal and adjust. Practical life skills of how to relate better, remain calm when under stress or duress, handle conflict and disagreements, parent children, and adjust emotions that get in the way of clear thinking and good behaviors are all an integral and essential part of good therapy. Give it a try – growth feels good!

 

Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist

The relationship with your therapist is the biggest factor in having the process of therapy work. I will use these characteristics to connect with you. First, I will empathize with you. This is the blend of understanding your situation well and being able to give sound direction and guidance at the same time. While listening to your story and situation I will show genuine care and concern for you as a person and will not judge or condemn your choices and experiences. From there grows the freedom for you to emotionally and mentally explore your motives and desires and as you do your sense of power over your life adds hope and healing. Finally, I will integrate truth to you by relying on the insight and wisdom from God. The truth will add strength and character to you and the healing and growth become integrated, making you a more whole and healthy person. That is truly FUN!

 

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed

Coming to therapy takes courage. It is not easy to come and talk about yourself and the challenges that you are having with life to a stranger. And yet, that is what I admire most about my clients – is the courage and strength they have used to make it through life as well and far as they have. Often we find their places of creativity and ingenuity that were developed when under stress, and for much of life, probably served them fairly well. As we build on those strengths we find ways to enhance and adjust them so that the skill is not all new – and therefore not so intimidating. It often seems to me that we are willing to hire a plumber, car mechanic, refrigerator repair-person, dentist and doctor to fix what is broken. There does not seem to me to be much difference then in hiring a therapist to help “fix” the relational and emotional parts of life that are not working very well. We are willing to do what the mechanic says (change the kind of gas you use, put in better brakes, change your oil more often) and take his advice because it will save you money in the long run. So, too, it is wise to realize that the expertise and training of a therapist may well help you to live better, longer and more pleasantly. That seems to me like money and time well spent!

Services I Provide

• Individual Therapy & Counseling
• Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
• Family Therapy
• Consultation
• Clinical Supervision
• Online Counseling / Phone Therapy

Ages I Work With

• Children
• Teens
• Adults
• Elders

Languages I Speak

• English

Groups I Work With

I have experience with all people from all age groups and enjoy each one of them. Struggles with depression, anxiety, worry, financial and relational strife, spiritual life questions, personal growth and life choices are all easy and healthier to do with someone by your side.

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy /REBT
• Emotion Focused Couples Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Gottman Method

Concerns & Issues I Help With

• Identity Issues
• Attachment
• Reproduction
• Occupational & Academic Issues
• Life Changes
• Health & Body
• Emotion Management
• Social Skills & Problems
• Anxiety, Fear, & Stress
• Depression & Mood
• Family Problems
• Childhood & Adolescence
• Relationships & Marriage
• Trauma
• Abuse: Emotional, Physical, or Sexual
• Self-Esteem & Confidence
• Spirituality
• Sexuality