Leslie Richardson,Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

My Approach to Helping

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

Therapy is not meant to "cure" someone from their struggles. Rather, it is an opportunity to discover new strengths, new skills and serve as a tool for a client to better cope with their problems. As a therapist, I am going to listen to you, encourage you and serve as a place you can talk and open up freely. What my job is not meant to do is fix problems or tell a client what to do. It is up to the client to take what is learned and utilize that information outside of sessions. A good therapist is going to care about the client, and it will show.

Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance

Getting along with your therapist and connecting in a positive way is vital to the therapy outcome a client is seeking. I often tell clients it can take a few sessions and sometimes longer, to feel really comfortable or develop a sense of trust. I have especially found this to be the case in working with children and adolescents. They can experience trauma or significant changes differently than adults. My focus is to make the therapy environment a safe and comfortable place for anyone that comes to see me.