My Approach to Helping
Are you interested in ensuring the success of your relationship, are you struggling with transitions or relationships. I can help you see patterns in yourself and your life, achieve goals you set forth and generally improve. I tend to be logic based but focused on emotions as well. I work well with both men and women, seniors and LGBT. I want to understand you and your situation. I tend to be direct and honest with feedback. You set the agenda and the pace, we will focus on your goals in therapy and I will help you the best I can to achieve what you set out to achieve.
You are in control of sessions, you decide what we focus on and where we go, goals and speed. Usually sessions start with my asking how you are doing and then we may return to previously discussed goals or talk about what is currently happening in your life. I like recommending books and even using movies or TV to make points. Because I tend to be on the casual side, sessions are pretty relaxed and casual.
More Info About My Practice
Reaching out to make that first appointment is a very hard first step. Finding the right therapist for you is extremely important. Without a good fit you are unlikely to make the progress you want to. People have described me as easy to talk to as well as helpful.
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
Please don't give up if you've had a negative therapy experience. There are good and bad professionals in all fields and there are good and bad fits. I would encourage you to make sure a therapist is licensed before making an appointment because if they are you have recourse to file a complaint and keep others from going through the same thing as you. It also means they've had the appropriate education including, at least in my field, ethics. Also it is important to find the right fit, not every therapist can help every client. Reading profiles online is a good way to get an understanding about the therapist, to sort of hear their voice and maybe that will click for you.
Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist
With each new client, I try to educate about choosing a therapist best suited to help you. There are three factors I have identified that seem to be most important. 1) That you feel you can share everything you need to share with the therapist, without feeling judged, 2) Do you feel understood taking into account your history and values etc, and 3) Are the questions, feedback or suggestions relevant for your life and not just cookie cutter responses? I am useless to you if I can't understand where you are coming from and where you want to go.
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
Sometimes we just need to vent to someone who will just listen and try to understand, there can be huge benefit to this. Other times we need to consider something we hadn't thought of yet or to see a situation from another angle. It isn't about being weak or flawed, in fact it takes a lot of guts to come to therapy and open yourself up, both to another person but also sometimes to yourself. You are not weak or flawed.
