Beverly Mahaffey, LPC

I have two special passions that are very complimentary to each other. Helping men and women move towards self-growth and empowerment including the establishment of firm and appropriate boundaries with others. A positive by product of this is being able to let go of self-destructive behavior patterns since better ways of coping have begun to be used. Also enjoy working with clients seeking ways to navigate, enjoy and flourish in the often challenging world of relationships: including intimate, family, friend and work arenas. Most us want to feel safe, loved and close to others. Many factors including our history and present circumstances can make this difficult. Becoming good at both engaging with others and resolving conflict with them sets us up for success in every area of our lives. Two of the skills that are crucial to becoming good at relationships are developing empathy or compassion for the other person's position and beginning to see what we can own or our part of the issue. Being adept at both of these skills puts us in the powerful position of becoming a part of the solution. Couples have commented that therapy them reestablish their emotional connection which helped them gain empathy for the others position and better resolve conflicts.

Most people seek psychotherapy because they are experiencing a moderate to severe degree of discomfort, anxiety or pain in one or more areas of their life. Choosing a clinician who can be both fully present and non-judgmental helps us to develop self-awareness as well as decide what we want to change and heal. Within this framework of increasing clarity and knowledge, more self-reflective ways of seeing our challenges emerge which moves us towards more strategic and life enhancing choices. It is my belief that the relationship between therapist and couple or individual can be pivotal in helping people gain the courage and tools to change. An environment that is both supportive and client empowering provides a safe space for people to develop the courage to change and make decisions that support their goals, needs and desires.