Empowering you to
live your best life.
Navigating life’s challenges together, helping you to create a new path and reach your full potential.
Thoughts on Being a Therapist
I see being a therapist not just as my work but as a calling, something that clearly represents who I am as a person. From the time I was age twenty-six and sat with my very first client in the back parking lot of a drug treatment center to thirty years later, I’ve always believed it is a great honor and privilege to work with people and walk alongside them on their path towards growth, healing, and fulfillment. One of the things I love most is helping people to not feel alone. So often we feel alone in this world, which can bring us so much pain and make our problems seem insurmountable. No one should have to feel this way, and sometimes when we are at our darkest times, in our darkest places, or just struggling with life in some way, we need somebody to help us so that we don’t have to suffer alone anymore.
“Nobody gets through this life unscathed. Not you, not me, not anyone.” This is a quote from the show Shrinking that I couldn’t agree with more. I believe everyone gets pushed around by life and has to deal with life’s challenges. This includes me, which is why I also have been a client in therapy. Because it changed me and my life in profound and significant ways, my firsthand experience of the benefits of therapy is one of the main reasons I am so passionate about my work as a therapist. I know personally what it can do for someone who wants to change themselves or their life in some way.
Why People Come to Therapy
People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons. It can be to alleviate suffering, to mourn, to forgive, to work through interpersonal conflicts and develop more fulfilling relationships, at times of transition, or when they feel stuck. Sometimes it’s in response to unexpected changes in your life, such as a divorce, death of a loved one, or the diagnosis of a severe health condition. It may be to deal with long-standing psychological issues, including anxiety or depression. Some are pursuing their own personal growth and exploration, wanting to understand themselves better. And at other times it is to rediscover oneself again or even to find the self that was never really born.
Whatever the reason is that you are seeking therapy at this time, I understand the courage it takes to begin this journey and will provide a safe and trusting space where you feel seen, heard, and understood, allowing for an experience in which you are fully supported in healing and in making the positive changes that you desire for yourself and your life.
How I Work
In my work with clients, I provide a non-judgmental and supportive atmosphere, and because I believe you should be empowered to take an active role in the therapeutic process, I aim to create a collaborative environment in our therapy sessions. I also believe that there is no single proven method of therapy, no one-size-fits-all approach. That’s because every client is different and unique; thus, every client deserves to have a therapist who works in a way that allows us to achieve the change that you desire. To accomplish this, I utilize a multidimensional approach, pulling from a range of techniques, resources, and theoretical orientations, including psychodynamic, family systems, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral therapy. I will always choose a method of working that aligns best with your individual concerns. I’ll also say that I strongly believe in using humor when it’s appropriate, for it has the power to lighten the load and make the journey a little easier to bear, as well as bring further insight.
“When you know better, you do better.” -Maya Angelou
This quote guides how I think about my work with clients. Why? Because when my clients know themselves better, when they understand themselves better, they become better and their lives become better. They think and feel better, make better decisions and choices, and become better versions of themselves. Thus, one of the important aspects of my work with you is to raise your awareness. This will allow you to have a deeper understanding about yourself, including how the events and relationships in your life have shaped your personality, as well as your beliefs about yourself and others. Awareness will help you make sense of your life and your history and understand how they impact your current challenges. Awareness will also enable us to change specific thoughts and behaviors that were once necessary and protected you but are now contributing to some of your problems and holding you back from being the person you want to be and living the life that you desire. As the quote above implies, awareness will provide you with the knowledge and understanding you need to improve all aspects of your life. In other words, to do and be better!
