My Approach to Helping
My approach to helping others is a combination of over 20 years working in the field of therapy in agencies and school settings, managed care, hospital programs and as a private practice therapist the past 5 years. I work from a strength-based approach that combines techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, short-term solution focused, and family systems. I believe my clients would describe me as genuine, down to earth, relatable, and supportive. I feel fortunate that I can join in the journey of helping others improve and grow, problem-solve, and move forward in dealing with painful life events.
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
It is vital to find a therapist you trust and feel comfortable working with in order for therapy to be successful. It would be difficult to make progress in treatment without feeling your therapist was trustworthy, knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, or genuine. Just as we all find professionals in the world we don't feel connected to such as a Dr., this can happen in therapy. Everyone has unique personalities and styles in the way they work. It is important to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with in therapy. A therapist is your partner and guide on this journey.
The Duration and Frequency of Therapy
The duration and frequency of therapy should be determined for each person individually. This should be a collaborative decision between the client and therapist. There are a number of factors to consider such as the primary issue and how this issue may be impacting the client's life and functioning. Generally, most of the clients I work with are seen weekly to start and my focus is short-term solution focused treatment. Of course, there is no one size fits all in regard to duration and frequency, but this should be a question best answered between client and therapist.