My Approach to Helping
Are you or your teen feeling sad or anxious, but feel too ashamed, embarrassed or upset to tell anyone about it? Do you feel confused because your life looks good on paper, but inside you're having a hard time "keeping it together" or feel that happiness is out of reach? Do you sometimes feel the need to mask your feelings and filter your words to others about how you're really feeling? Together, you and I will figure out what’s really going on. There is a reason for your feelings, and I want to discover where it’s coming from with you. I look forward to exploring what's going on, figuring out a plan, and teaching you tools you need to take your life back.
You don’t need to feel ashamed, overwhelmed or paralyzed by your feelings anymore. I have been specializing in depression, anxiety, and relationship problems since I began my clinical practice in 2005; the tools that I’ll provide are tools that I have been sharpening over my career helping people just like you. I will never force you to talk about something that you don’t want to talk about. Instead, we will gently bump up against your uncomfortable feelings so that you don’t get swallowed up by them. We’ll work collaboratively to address the anxiety, depression, or other feelings that are bothering you right now. We'll talk about your relationships and figure out how to improve them. We’ll start with what’s going on in the moment, how to get control over your body and thoughts, and how to feel better about life. There is a way to break free from the grips of your sadness, anxiety and relationship problems, and I can help you explore the different pathways to better health.
I have been in clinical practice for nearly 20 years and my approach is informed by the latest research to provide the best care possible. I hold an integrated perspective about human growth and healing that takes into consideration social, biological, and cultural influences that may be out of balance. I offer a healthy mix of experience, enthusiasm, curiosity, calm and supportive guidance. My approach will be ultimately tailored to your issues and needs, though I hold great respect for time spent exploring internal thoughts and reactions, untangling inner conflicts and achieving a greater capacity for calmness, contentedness, clarity and balance. Above all, my style is collaborative and comfortable; I aim to create a safe space free of judgement while striving to optimize introspection, understanding, change and growth from a holistic perspective. I strongly believe that everyone already possesses a variety of tools and resources to handle life challenges, and I look to harness and augment them.
Together we can focus on honest self-exploration, improved communication, problem-solving, cultivating authenticity, healing and personal growth. It's time to find greater peace and happiness in work, school, family, friendships, and all other life areas. I'm committed to meeting you wherever you are, and I recognize that everyone's journey is unique.
More Info About My Practice
Clarity Counseling Services, LLC is an established psychotherapy practice dedicated to serving high-school aged teens and adults in and around the Harvard, Massachusetts area. This is a growing practice currently offering remote telehealth services, and is projected to expand services by offering in-office in-person psychotherapy in 2024.
I don't currently bill client health insurance but am happy to provide you with a detailed receipt of services, called a Superbill, that you may use to pursue insurance reimbursement for out-of-network care if your plan includes it. If you are unsure if you have these benefits available to you, please consult your insurance company for more information.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
Anxiety disorders, teen-issues, depression (i.e., bipolar, Seasonal Affective Disorder, major depression, etc.), relationship issues, moving on after a breakup-divorce-separation, grief & bereavement, attachment issues, abuse, stressful life transitions (i.e., empty nest, career switch, midlife crisis, first-time parenthood, high school to college, moving to a new city, etc.), self-esteem issues, shame & humiliation, and men's issues.
How Psychotherapy Can Help
When you become stressed out, depressed, and irritable, you can be burdened down by negative thoughts. Whether you are consciously or unconsciously aware, these thoughts have the ability to drastically impact your life.
Thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all intertwined and influence each other. One approach to counseling seeks to intervene at one of these levels to impact the others. For example, if you work toward developing a mental filter that is more optimistic, your emotions and behaviors will likely follow suit. When you become accustomed to thinking about life from a negative perspective, you tend to isolate yourself, take fewer chances, have more negative interpersonal interactions, and your world becomes increasingly small. By challenging this negative perspective in therapy, you may begin to develop a perspective that is more balanced, acknowledging both the good and the bad in life.
My Role as a Therapist
As a counselor, I am not here to tell you what to do with your life, lecture you, or judge you. I am here to help you discover your feelings, to help motivate you, to provide a safe space for you to explore different options, to help you uncover your strengths, to help you work through trauma, and to assist you in making difficult decisions. The counseling session is all about you. You are the expert of your own life, and my approach to counseling honors that.
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
On the contrary, it takes guts and commitment to make the decision to see a counselor. It takes courage to admit that you need help, and to face your struggles head-on. I firmly believe that everybody should see a counselor at least once in their lifetime because we all go through rough patches. This does not mean that you are weak or flawed. It means that you're human, just like the rest of us.
My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'
I believe that everyone can change and grow at any time in their lives. I don't believe that there is a limit to human capacity. I think the main reason we develop mental health issues is because they are unhealthy learned behaviors that we have picked up along the way. Which means that I think you can unlearn the faulty behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. While I believe that some depression, sadness, worry and anxiety is a natural part of life, I don't think they should come saddled with shame and guilt. You should not feel consumed or paralyzed by your thoughts or feelings. I believe that being free from fear and shame is a human right. If you are fed up with feeling bad and you're ready to feel relief, feel free to contact me so that we can work together to create a better life for you.
