My Approach
In my practice I provide a safe, empathic, and non-judgmental space to explore any issues that have brought you to therapy. This might be a specific mental health diagnosis, like ADHD, anxiety, or depression, or it could be a more general life concern like relationship challenges, a health condition, or stress management, all of which can impact our overall wellness.
Most of us want to move in the direction of a meaningful, authentic life that reflects our values, but for various reasons the path becomes obscured. I both challenge and support my clients in their courageous steps toward clarity and fulfillment. My therapeutic style is warm, accepting and engaging; my orientation is integrative and experiential. This means that I tailor my work with you to address your unique needs and concerns as we pay attention to the feelings, thoughts and experiences unfolding in your life right now. I draw from complimentary modalities like mindfulness based ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Existential-Humanistic approaches, as well as Emotionally Focused therapy for couples.
What makes therapy work?
This is a question I’ve been asked and have asked myself many times. If you’ve been in therapy before, you might have a sense of what works for you (or doesn’t), but if this is your first experience you may be wondering how this is any different than talking with a trusted friend, or getting support from a family member or advisor. And you’re wise to wonder, because your question touches on one of the most essential components of good therapy: the relationship.
A safe and trusting connection is at the heart of what makes therapy work, and this what we mean when we talk about finding a “good fit”. There are a number of other factors that contribute to progress and personal growth (your commitment, a therapist’s skill, appropriate interventions, cultural responsiveness, etc.), but the primary factor is the relationship; the foundation upon which the skills and transformation can unfold.
Because your therapist is not your best friend, or your family member, you may feel freer to express yourself with a different level of frankness and honesty, knowing that you are being accepted exactly as you are without some of the more complex dynamics and expectations of your personal relationships. As your therapist, my job isn’t to tell you what to do, to give advice (although it may be tempting to ask!), to weigh in with judgment, or to presume that I know what’s best for you. My purpose is to stay curious, ask questions, reflect your experience, and use our relationship as a tool to help you understand yourself better and move in the direction of what’s most important to you.
It’s within this container, this therapeutic relationship, that therapy begins to “work”. You now have the space to access your internal wisdom, challenge yourself, expand, experiment and ultimately heal.