My Approach to Helping
Psychotherapy can help you change your life.
Why psychotherapy? Aren't there drugs for depression? Anxiety? Shouldn't they be enough?
Drugs can be absolutely a life-changer for some people and, for others, they aren't helpful at all. As helpful as they can be, they can't help you learn effective coping skills, understand how your early life and/or trauma affects your present life, or teach you how to repair your relationships. Those are best addressed within psychotherapy.
I look at our lives as affected by our genes, our families, our communities, and the larger world. How we interact with those circles and with ourselves affects how we feel about ourselves. Often, people consult with a therapist because one or more of those relationships is in some kind of difficulty. Our work together is to help you identify the issues, the feelings you may be having (or not having) and take steps to move towards having the relationships with yourself and other people that are fulfilling and joyful. I do not set the agenda for you, although I will work with you to set your goals for yourself. Your work with me is your own, at your pace. I see myself as a guide and facilitator to that process. I am not a silent partner, however. I will ask questions, and I will offer suggestions at times. Sometimes, I will bring your attention to patterns or connections that I notice. They are yours to consider.