My Approach to Helping
My approach is centered around a few basic ideas:
Everything is a practice.
This gives us the grace to be human and not be perfect - we are practicing new ways of being, new ways of thinking, and new movements in our lives. We don’t expect that having one conversation about a new skill or tool, that it will magically change overnight. Instead, we expect that we are just practicing this new skill, and it will develop over time.
Remember that we are human.
I believe that we tend to relate to each other as things rather than people - including ourselves. When we forget that we are human, problems like anxiety and perfectionism take over to make us feel terrible about ourselves. We become hard on ourselves, have difficulty making decisions, continually worry about what others think, and so on.
We are always changing and always growing.
People are dynamic - we don’t stay the same. It’s impossible when we continually experience time, other people, different activities, etc. This means that we can grow, and we can be different. I lean towards nurture over nature, though there will always be both.
My approach aims to take us back to being human. I start with empathy and getting to understand you and your particular experience as best I can, without judgements or assumptions. From there, we explore the roots of the problem that you’re experiencing, and work with specific techniques to separate yourself from the problem, shift your thinking and find new perspective, come to terms with uncertainty and what you can’t change, and to help you get to know your self better. We often end session with a focus or action for the week to come, so that you can practice what we talk about and take it out of therapy world and into the ‘real’ world with you.
More Info About My Practice
Located near Sloan’s Lake in Denver, I offer in-person, online, and outdoor therapy sessions. Our work together can be short term or long term, depending on your needs and the support you are looking for. I work primarily with young adults in their 20s and 30s who are struggling with anxiety, self-worth, and related issues.
My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy
It?s challenging to articulate the purpose of therapy - as the process and relationship differs so greatly between every client, so does the purpose. Ultimately, the purpose of therapy changes based on the client and the therapeutic experience. The purpose of therapy in my practice is most commonly that therapy provides a process and experience of getting to know oneself, acknowledge oneself, and accept oneself in a non-judgmental, safe, curious space.
More specific purposes of therapy can include coming to accept all parts of oneself, healing from past traumas and difficult experiences, changing our relationship with problems such as anxiety so that they do not run our lives, developing a sense of meaning and purpose, learning coping and anxiety management skills, and working on awareness and mindfulness skills.
What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist
I love the process of existential exploration and meaning that happens during therapy. I believe that questions such as ?what?s the point? should not be pathologized but should be deeply explored. Facing these questions, as well as life?s uncertainties, can help us face our anxieties and understand our meaning and purpose. Being able to address these questions and provide the space for others to do so provides a foundation for growth, self-awareness, and a new understanding of our problems such as anxiety.
I consider it a privilege to be able to witness the lives of my clients and be a part of their growth. Watching clients? self-discovery and their moves from processing and exploring into action keeps me motivated to continue helping others. For me, being a therapist and working with others in a relational way is fulfilling and meaningful; I feel connected to my purpose and know that I am showing up as my best self in the world.
I also enjoy how unique every client is - from how their issues present, to how they see themselves, to what they find as helpful solutions. No two clients are the same, and each therapeutic relationship is its own evolving process. No two people experience anxiety or depression or obsessions in the same way, and we get to unravel each client?s distinct human experience as we go.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.