My Approach to Helping
Traditionally, when therapists discuss their approach they are usually describing the modality; that is the "what" they are using in their approach. Think of when a therapist says they use CBT. However, throughout the years of practicing, I have found it to the client's benefit that instead I should describe the "how"; that is how do I apply the modality in session. My purpose is to give more insight into exactly how I provide my therapeutic services. This way, potential clients can have a much easier time deciding whether or not my services are best fitted for their needs.
My approach can best be described by the following:
Collaborative: I may be an expert when it comes to human psychology and behavior, but you are the expert and the author to your life. It is for this reason that I ensure our work together is a consequence of both of our efforts. This is accomplished through my patiently listening and understanding where you are and want to be and us developing specific tools that you find makes the most sense for you. My purpose here is to act as a guide for the destination you choose.
Informative: It is often important to provide psycho-education. This method is a way to help clients understand psychological happenings that they are experiencing. It is a method most commonly used by many therapists, including myself. However, I also believe it is equally, if not more important to understand the self. Here, my clients will understand their unconscious motivations, core beliefs, how their emotions (positive and negative) are directly connected to their needsvalues, and how all of this influences their behaviors. This has proven to be absolutely necessary for one reason, awareness creates choice.
Action-Oriented & Solution Focused: Traditional psychotherapy often takes a deep dive into the past to understand and resolve problems of today. Although this can be useful, it can over complicate therapy and leave us with more questions than answers. Usually, those seeking psychotherapy want answers. Clients want solutions that are actionable and realistic to the context of their life. Many clients like to see that they are making progress; that they ARE going in the right direction. Put simply, clients want to know how to get from point A to point B. We'll achieve this by identifying and enacting precise behaviors that are directly aligned with your goals (for therapy) and values (the person you want to be and how you want to live your life).
Experiential: Seeing is believing. Although in-depth explanations of interventions reinforce knowledge, experience has proven time and again that it is the best teacher. This means that instead of only explaining how the interventions are effective, I show you the interventions effectiveness in session. Through practicing the techniques while in session, I highlight and explain its utility and workability step by step.