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

My Approach to Helping

My own personal experience with psychotherapy and the healing I was able to experience after many lonely, frustrating years of struggling with my problems on my own led me to believe deeply in the power of a therapeutic relationship as a tool for discovering both what needs to change and how to actually allow shifts to both inner awareness and external behaviors to occur. I enjoy being able to provide to other people the opportunity to experience the renewed sense of hope, higher self-worth and improved capabilities for self-care and personal happiness that I experienced as outcomes of effective therapeutic work.

Each person who comes to see me is offered the opportunity to talk about what brings them to therapy. Your style and preferences in how you want to approach resolving your problems deserve respect and careful attention. I want to get to know you and work with you to determine what types of approaches would work best for you to be able to work on the parts of yourself that are stopping you from experiencing satisfaction and enjoyment in your life.

I work with people individually, in couples, with some or all members of a family and I lead a workshop six or 7 times a year on a Saturday. People can participate in whichever of these styles of therapy feels most suited to their needs.

I welcome your questions and hope if you find something in this profile that touches you that you will contact me.

 

More Info About My Practice

People who have chosen to do their therapy with me have noticed over time they are feeling more at peace with themselves because they are enjoying improved personal and professional relationships, better parenting skills, reductions in self harmful behaviors, increases in satisfaction with work and play and expanded abilities to be creative and proactive in their lives. These experiences have enabled them to start, improve or end relationships, effectively handle life transitions including losses, change jobs, go back to school, get promotions, raises, obtain more challenging and interesting positions at work and start/improve their own businesses.

I am happy to talk with you about any questions or concerns you might have so you can see if working with me is something that feels right for you.

 

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

People who have grown up in a family where compulsive, addictive and behavioral dysfunction are present are affected in their: self relationship (own addictions, depression, anxiety, insecurity, low self worth/esteem); relationships with others, ability to identify and succeed in careers/jobs and often have trouble with many basic skills of daily living. These problems are entrenched and require someone with special education and skills to help identify the sources of pain and blocked ability to change things; also to assist with the process of restoring healthier ways of living. Examples of family dysfunction are when: someone drinks to excess, uses illegal drugs or over the counter drugs to excess to self medicate, eating issues (over/under/starving), where there is squelching of self expression, infidelity, money issues (over/underspending, debting,gambling.

 

How Psychotherapy Can Help

Often in life friends and family don't listen or can't listen on all the levels you are speaking on. They may have short attention spans, or just not be able to "get" where you are coming from. A well trained psychotherapist learns to hear what you are saying verbally and what you are demonstrating in your behavior and interactions in the therapy relationship. In addition, a seasoned therapist learns how to be with you without reacting and can use themselves professionally to help you come to know parts of you that may be interfering with your happiness and satifaction with your life. Therapy doesn't seek to make your life or you perfect, but rather to empower you to manage and intervene successfully in whatever life sends your way. People who can do this experience a better connection with themselves and more enjoyable experiences with other people and situations they participate in.

 

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

Therapy is to restore your ability to have a warm and enjoyable relationship within yourself and between you and other people. With these things in place, attaining other goals becomes possible and easier.

 

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

I work with many people long term to help them restore areas of their lives that painful family backgrounds prevented them from finding and utilizing effectively. The therapeutic relationship is a special and unique place to help people release their personal qualities so they can find and express their talents and enjoy their lives more.

 

My Role as a Therapist

I provide a safe, confidential and compassionate enviornment. I work with each person in a unique manner helping them uncover their personal approach to healing. I do many things in my role, listen, share feedback, offer activities to help people work on their concerns. I utilize many schools of therapy which I blend in a unique for each person as our work unfolds.

 

My Therapy Focus

I focus on helping each person who works with me to uncover their true nature and be freed up to act effectively on their own behalf in all areas of their lives. i work with behavior, thoughts and language helping people recognize how their present style works for/against them. I offer many experiential opportunities to learn and practice different styles both for self relating and in relation to others.

 

What I Usually Need to Know to Help

I often say that no matter what you talk about we will be able to find the places where you are feeling stuck. I guide you to share about what I think will be helpful based on what you start talking about. In general, helping you to share as honestly and fully as you can your experience of yourself, your historical and present experiences.

 

My Guiding Ethical Principles

Everything I do in my role is done with courtesy, consideration, sensitivity and rspect for the individuality of each person I work with. As our work unfolds therapy can feel like a friendship at times because of the support and warmth in the relationship. To keep our relationship professional and focused as psychotherapy I am very clear about structures that are known as therapeutic boundaries. Some of these are starting, ending on time, maintaining a therapeutic stance in sessions and keeping the work focused in the sessions. I utilize an administrative moment at the beginning of sessions to keep logistical aspects such as fees, scheduling clear. This is done at the beginning so once we get underway in the session the person doesn't have to regroup and try to talk about these things after doing emotional work. The boundaries are not meant to take away from the experience, but rather support the safety and effectiveness of the work we can do together.

 

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

Therapy is more scary when you think about it without having tried it. If you find the right person (someone you can open up to and experience change with) you can talk about your ambivalence and will most likely find it fades as you discover options for living that on your own didn't seem possible. Reminding yourself that going doesn't have to be forever, you are not trapped. You can try it and leave if it doesn't seem right for you. Each person who works with me sets their own timetable for starting and ending their therapy.

 

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

It is important to talk about your past therapy experiences with me so you can both learn about what didn't work for you there and not repeat it here. I want to provide a positive experience for you. I understand that a prior negative therapy experience is especially painful because you went seeking help and ended up with more pain. Often this prevents or delays a return to therapy. I can help you work through whatever happened utilizing talking and other creative arts or experiential approaches to deepen your release of the past hurt or disappointment. Sometimes the wrong fit between you and a past therapist can contribute to a negative experience. Choosing someone with whom you feel compatible and who has the training and experience you need will increase your chances of a positive experience.

 

Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist

Your therapist would have training and experience in the problems you want to work on. It's important that you feel comfortable in their office with them and can talk about your concerns. The realationship between you and your therapist is the main way you will experience your ability to heal and grow so feeling comfortable, understood and safe is very important. There will be times you will experience difficult feelings in therapy so it is important to have a good alliance between you and your therapist to help sustain you during these difficult passageways. In my expereince, I have found this type of experience at times is necessary for overall true healing to take place.

 

How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist

In addition to my professional training, I have often said I have a degree from "the school of hard knocks, majoring in life struggles". I have worked through a lot of personal issues spanning numerous areas in my life. My personal struggles and my experiences with therapy and how it has helped me to heal have really expanded my ability to be sensistive and more intuitive about how I choose to conduct therapy.

 

Theoretical Influences that Guide My Work

Each person is different so I have exposed myself to many different schools of therapy. I utilize Psychodrama, Gestalt, Experiential, Addictions (12 step and non 12 step alternatives), non diet, non deprivational eating approaches, family and couples' work, cognitive, behavioral, Transactional Anaysis, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic and various creative arts.

 

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

Clients who have worked with me have been surprised when they risk sharing anger or other frightening feelings honestly with me at the relief they feel. It is usually scary at first to risk that level of honesty, but once you do you probably will be amazed at how relieved you feel. This type of experiencing in my office opens the door for you to be able to do that more outside my office. I have many experiential approaches to helping people recognize, address, cope with and release intense feelings.

 

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

I think people judge and criticize things that threaten them. It is easier to say therapy is for crazy or flawed people than it is to face the need for help and do something about it. I think the people who go to therapy are the courageous and healthier people in our society!

 

Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance

It has been my experience that most people have difficulty knowing all aspects of a problem they are facing. One of the most powerful tools therapy offers is the recognition and therapeutic use of "enactments". I treat these as a form of unconscious communication from my clients and I seek to help educate their awareness of both the presence of an enactment and what it may mean to them. An enactment is where the feelings and styles of an origianl (source figure)relationship take place between you and me. These happen offer in life, usually people untrained in them just react and conflicts escalate. Discovering the specific ways you may reenact old relationship patterns is very empowering so you can make different choices and have more satisfaction in your relationships.

 

My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'

It is different for each person. My job to help each person discover their sources of pain. Often family backgrounds are major contributors. Sometimes events later in life can trigger a need for help.

 

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

I work in partnership with my clients about the length and frequency of their sessions. I will see people for 45 minutes or longer sessions if they wish. I will recommend different frequencies for various reasons, many people come once a week, some every other, some two or three times. We discuss your needs together. Financial considerations are taken into account when deciding on frequency too.

 

What Makes up a Problem?

Everything someone has inherited biologically and experienced personally contributes to each person being unique. We explore these in therapy together. I think of my office as a place to discover and explore in your own way whatever seems important for you to address to resolve the things that have caused you pain.

Services I Provide

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

Ages I Work With

• Adults

Languages I Speak

• English

Groups I Work With

Adult children of alcoholic/dysfunctional families seeking to resolve "inner child"/family of origin issues,codependency,people in recovery from addictions/compulsions (whether 12 step oriented or not), problems with eating patterns, non-diet/non-deprivation approach,12 step recovery concepts, unmarried, married, and divorced couples, and can work with some or all of family members in sessions together

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Creative Art Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Integration of different therapy models
• Psychoanalysis / Modern Psychoanalysis
• Psychodrama
• Psychodynamic
• Transactional Analysis

Concerns & Issues I Help With

• Identity Issues
• Attachment
• Addictions & Compulsions
• Life Changes
• Relationships & Marriage
• Social Skills & Problems
• Occupational & Academic Issues
• Health & Body
• Emotion Management
• Family Problems
• Anxiety, Fear, & Stress
• Self-Esteem & Confidence