I have been in therapy before, more than once. It changed my life and it can change yours. I entered the field in order to share with others the life-changing power of being in therapy, learning about oneself, and making decisions to change one’s way of interacting with the world. I want to share with you what I learned and I consider it a joy to do so. I get excited when I client comes in and reports a change they made for themselves. You might wonder if you are ready for change, if you can do it, or even if you want it. Here’s a thought: If not you, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?
My mission is to provide you with the highest quality psychotherapy in order to help you achieve your goals in therapy and in life. I will work with you in a way that builds on your strengths and skills and which challenges you to take your life to a new place, as you envision it and have described it to me. The most productive therapy environment is one of mutual trust, respect, and collaboration. To that end, my approach is down to earth and direct, yet compassionate and caring. I strive for excellence and integrity both in my clinical work and in the running of my business.
My interest is in being with you as you discover, determine, and express what it is that you need and want most. The approach is fun in that it is expressive and exploratory. It is challenging in that you will be invited to see yourself and think about yourself differently and you will learn about your part in your outcomes. My approach is tailored for you. So, the best way to see what it will be like is to come in!
I am often asked, “How do we proceed?” My process is to be with you with no agenda, listen to you, learn about what you want/need, learn how you function, and provide an environment for you to discover how you get in your own way. I am not prone to socio-political agendas or the changing winds of cultural trendiness and fashion. My treatment approaches are based on sound scientific models and principles of human behavior and established proven methods of effective psychotherapy.
The most important part of the training for any accomplished psychotherapist is to have been in one’s own therapy and to have made significant improvement in those areas of woundedness, distortion and conflict that have been impediments in the therapist’s life. No matter how good the graduate program, book-learning, clinical training and years of experience, without this piece, no psychotherapist is fully prepared to help others. The therapist’s un-analyzed blockages become the client’s blockages. I have worked in my personal therapy both individually and in group therapy at frequent intervals throughout my career. When I continue in my personal work, I am better able to use myself – my feelings and reactions – to understand you and give feed-back. I am very aware, when we are meeting, of myself, my emotions, and my reactions. I often share my reactions with my clients and invite them to observe and share their emotions and reactions with me. So, we are looking at what we are co-creating in session. Through this process, people usually become more aware of themselves and clearer about what they want and need in session and in their life!
I encourage you to ask me about my personal therapy work and to ask any other therapist you are considering seeing. Any seasoned therapist should be happy to share with you about this part of their training and preparation for the work, and perhaps share a couple of things they gained from their personal therapy work. If they aren’t willing, or if they bristle at such questions, let that be food for thought for you in your decision.
Please click the “Areas of Expertise” tab next to learn what kinds of work I do the most and the best. Thanks!
If you’re ready to get started, call me at 704-776-6438.