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 keeps bothering you. whatever it is, it's disruptive enough that you have thought to yourself, maybe I should reach out to get some help with this. Reaching out can be uncomfortable or even frightening, it's a healthy choice anyway and I would encourage you to take the chance.

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 desire. We can make the most out of the good times and know that we can handle the challenges that may come our way.

As your counselor, I will walk with you (both of you, if you are a couple) 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. I believe very strongly in the potential of every person who enters my office. 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.

My office hours are flexible, including Saturdays, I can usually work with your schedule and am open to providing counseling on the phone or through video services. My office is handicap accessible and please feel free to speak with me about your specific needs if you have concerns about accessibility.

My price per session is $60-$75. I offer a sliding scale if finances are an issue, so please feel free to discuss this with me. I do not currently accept any insurances. I offer the first appointment free; usually this is a shorter appointment for you to get a chance to meet me and see if I can be a good fit for you. It is important that you are able to feel comfortable with me for us to be able to build a good connection so I like to start softly and help ease any tension you may feel about therapy. 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.