My Approach to Helping
My passion for helping others, and, thus, becoming a therapist, stemmed from a significant loss I experienced a number of years ago. This experience led me to a life-altering decision whereby I decided to become a licensed clinical social worker. I am deeply committed to enhancing your well-being by focusing on your current needs. My primary function at the outset of a relationship is engaging with you. I want to get to know what your needs are and ensure that you are comfortable expressing those needs to me with an understanding that I do not pass judgment. My goal for you is to enhance your self-esteem, improve your relationships, and to help you gain insight and clarity in your life so that you can live a meaningful, content life. My philosophy is one that avoids happiness as an end goal, as I believe that happiness is fleeting, and that having happiness as a goal often leads to disappointment. Rather, it is contentment that leads to a satisfying and fulfilling life. I have particular expertise in counseling men and couples.
Prior to beginning any intervention, it is critical that I gain insight into your background to understand the nature of your childhood environment, relationship with family members and friends, your likes and dislikes, among other things. I then take an acceptance-based approach through an intervention known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by having you accept, rather than negate, your current thought pattern. I also use Motivational Interviewing to strengthen your motivation to effectuate positive changes in your life, including overcoming addictive behaviors. Throughout each session, I feel it is important that you become a partner in the therapeutic process by making you aware of the intervention used in addition to what the intervention attempts to accomplish.