My Approach to Helping
If you're looking at this page, I can guess something is troubling you. It may be something new that you haven't experienced before or it may be something old that just keeps bothering you. Whatever it is, it's disruptive enough that you have thought to yourself, maybe I need some help with this. Reaching out can be uncomfortable or even frightening. It can be an important choice, sometimes life changing. I would encourage you to take the chance. We all can benefit from having someone to talk to, be heard, feel understood.
I can offer you a safe and comfortable environment for you to work through difficult situations, past and present. You will build skills that will help you feel better and more in control of your self and your life. We all struggle sometimes and still we are all capable of living the life we want and deserve. We can make the most out of the good times and also know that we can handle the challenges that come our way.
As your counselor, I will "walk" with you by your side, helping you to find the best way, unique to you, that will get you moving forward in the direction you want to go. Therapy can offer you the chance to understand yourself more clearly and with that knowledge is the power to choose who you become and how you experience your life. I believe very strongly in the potential of every person that I get to work with. I am always inspired by how unique and interesting we all are, and I try to bring that sense of hope and curiosity into my practice everyday.
More Info About My Practice
There are a lot of different 'therapeutic techniques' out there. My typical approach is to find the technique that will work best for you. There is no one size fits all format in therapy. As a very general statement about my specific philosophy, I would say that I am typically future focused and solution oriented. We want to know how we got to where we are and the whys behind the things we do and the choices we make, and I think ultimately that we change our lives by making new choices for ourselves moving forward.
Due to the pandemic, I am currently working almost completely through telehealth and video conferencing services provided through Sondermind. For extenuating circumstances, I do have an office that can be scheduled if needed, occasionally. Masks will be required for the duration of an in- person session which is why video sessions are such a useful tool at this time. It may feel more personal to see each other through video without masks than with masks in person.
Please feel free to give me a call or send me a message if you have any questions or just want a chance to talk with me and see if I can be a good fit for you. It's important that you are able to feel comfortable with me for us to build a good connection for therapy. Having a quick chat with me may also help ease any tension you might be feeling about counseling in general. I hope to hear from you soon.
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
It is always interesting to me how differently we view our minds and bodies. Would we ever think of someone who chooses a physically healthy lifestyle as weak? Would we say that something was wrong with them for recognizing that investing time, thought, and energy into their physical selves can be beneficial? Then how can we let ourselves think that going to therapy makes us weak?
Therapy can be part of a healthy lifestyle for your mind. You may want to look at it like a workout for your brain; a therapist might be seen as a personal trainer. Goals in therapy do not have to be focused on eliminating a disorder, instead you may have a goal for mental wellness. Through therapy you will strengthen your own awareness of your thoughts and feelings and actions so you can decide for yourself what is working best to get you to your goals. You will be able to make healthier or more effective choices for enhancing your own well being. In therapy you can build your own capacity to handle difficult situations and emotions. You can feel empowered and confident in your life.
I don't want you to feel weak for reaching out, you are a person with all the worth and potential as any other. We all face challenges and accepting support is a sign of having strength and compassion for ourselves. Taking the time to build yourself up is a sign of truly valuing yourself. There is courage and bravery in choosing to make ourselves healthier.
