Alan Ivicic, Licensed Clinical Social Worker- Psychotherapy Privilege

Therapy should be practical, direct, and collaborative. Therapy focuses on identifying the patterns that keep people stuck, understanding the emotional and relational dynamics underneath those patterns, and building a clearer way forward.

Feeling stigma for having emotional difficulties or problems in your relationship is a barrier for many in seeking help from a mental health professional. Some people are fearful, embarrassed, or ashamed that they have not been able to handle their problems on their own. Searching online, it is easy to see you are probably not the only one having a difficult time coping with emotional pain. For example, data from the World Health Organization ranks Depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide! But stigma towards mental health is pervasive in our society. Establishing trust with your provider is a requirement for therapy to be helpful to you and a partner. It is important to know that licensed therapists are legally and ethically bound to maintain your confidentiality and to inform you of limits to confidentiality. It is also helpful to consider that every psychotherapist is different and there are many disciplines that offer therapy. But the main determinant for a positive outcome in therapy is a strong therapeutic alliance with your therapist. It is important to take time to decide who can be the most helpful and right fit for you. If you contact me we will briefly discuss your situation and what is bothering you. I will then inform you of my approach to psychotherapy and then you can decide if setting up an initial appointment makes sense for you.

Couples therapy is for partners stuck in conflict, distance, resentment, betrayal recovery, sexual disconnection, or hard conversations that keep getting avoided. The solution is not about deciding who is right. It is about understanding the pattern between you and learning how to handle conflict, closeness, sex, and repair differently. Individual therapy is useful when mood, drinking, trauma responses, or relationship patterns are affecting daily life, intimacy, communication, or the ability to move forward in life.