My Approach
I practice pragmatic depth therapy. My approach combines the powerful change that comes from addressing our inner psychological world and more practical behavioral change that takes place outside ourselves – in our actions, our relationships and our workplace. After collaborating with you to increase your hope, resiliency, and self-awareness we can begin to untangle the beliefs and behaviors that restrict wellbeing and ownership of your life. Then, with this freedom, I work with you to create a life where who you really are is aligned with the choices you make out in the world. Together, we uncover the way to more satisfaction, joy, and meaning in your life.
The make-up of my approach includes humanistic-existential theories, Internal Family Systems therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. As we get to know each other, I tailor the right balance of these approaches to best suit your needs.
Overall, my work is informed by a “base of operations” – key ideas about what mental health looks like and how therapy can support you:
•You possess the capacity to heal within yourself. Powerful healing can also happen from deepened human connection. In life, we need both kinds.
•Emotions are important. They have something to tell you about what truly matters to you. Emotions are worthy of being listened to. And not just the painful ones – laughter and joy get space in our work.
•Concern and curiosity are important signals, too. They are our trailheads to the rich wisdom you carry inside.
•Sometimes only a simple change is needed to address very big problems.
•But often, making changes and experiencing healing can also take time. The problems that bring someone to therapy often exist for a long time beforehand and can’t be changed in a moment. I encourage patience in the therapeutic process and urge each individual to give time for healing.
•It is natural to, at times, feel resistant to therapy or to making change, particularly as the work gets going. These feelings deserve respect, and the pace and intensity of therapy is always up to you.
•The scope of therapy is also up to you. Our work can address just a small facet of your life or address bigger, more integral experiences. If you give it the time, space, and effort, therapy can be life-changing. For our work to be this impactful, therapy must be thought of as one of the major undertakings in your life. I’ll treat it as a major undertaking, too.
•A large part of greater mental health means greater wholeness: living more fully in line with who we really are; and living with more harmony between all the different parts of ourselves we have inside.
•As your counselor, my role is to be your expert in exploration as you discover inside yourself how to fully use your potential and best live your life.
•Therapy work may mean you will feel discomfort, the kind of discomfort that comes from effort and from stepping outside of the usual. But therapy does not require the kind of discomfort that comes from feeling overwhelmed.
•Feeling the need for therapy does not necessarily mean you have a “disorder.” And having a “disorder” does not necessarily mean that you absolutely must have therapy.
•You are worthy of being treated gently, both by me and by yourself.
•So much excitement lies ahead.
I offer a free 20-minute phone or in-person consultation. This is a great opportunity for you to determine whether my therapeutic approach is a good fit for you. Contact me to schedule a consultation or a first appointment.