Theresa Tadlock, LCSW, CADC

Life is challenging. Along the way we all develop coping skills, some are helpful, others are not. Sometimes life presents us with too many challenges, changes or losses at the same time and our normal coping skills just aren't enough. That's when it's time to consider finding a therapist you feel comfortable with and who you can trust. My approach to therapy could be called eclectic. It's based on what I've learned working with individuals and couples over many years but is also deeply rooted in the principles of cognitive therapy. The premise of cognitive therapy is that it's your thoughts that cause your feelings. If you want to change the way you feel, you need to change the way you think. And there's always another way of looking at things. It's not that our pain, emotional or otherwise, isn't real. It's that often the things we say to ourselves, our "self-talk", is what makes the difference in how we deal with and move through our pain and disappointment. The good news is that self-talk is something we have control over and can choose to change. My job as a therapist is to listen intently to your story and ask the questions that will help you discover what else may be true and possible for your life.

Clients tell me that I'm easy to talk to but I'm still always amazed by how quickly people trust me with the most personal details about themselves and their lives. I often hear comments like "I wasn't going to tell you that." I take that as a compliment because I think it means they feel safe and believe that I'm non-judgmental and know that I'm truly there to help them. After over 20 years in practice I still feel privileged to be invited into my clients' lives in such a deep and personal way.

I strongly believe that my clients alone are the experts on their own lives and I trust completely in their ability to make the decisions that are right for them. Their goals are the focus of therapy. My role is to be an adviser and an advocate and my objective is to challenge, motivate and inspire them to achieve their goals.