Hi there, my name is Mitch, and I am a licensed professional counselor. Do you feel like you’ve lost control? Are you plagued by unwelcome, often self-critical thoughts? Maybe you’ve experienced a significant life event like the loss of a loved one, job, or relationship? You’ve no doubt tried to manage on your own but despite your best efforts, things aren’t getting any better. Well, you don’t have to go through this journey alone. Together, we can identify the challenges that are holding you back and help you to build the life that you deserve. Therapy can be intimidating, so if you’ve decided to seek help, then you’ve made a brave choice, and I believe, a wise one. For that, I’d like to congratulate you. And whatever the reason you’re struggling to achieve your goals, I believe I can help. I have over 10 years of experience working with a wide range of individuals, including those who struggle with anxiety, depression, substance use, OCD behaviors, ADD/ADHD, PTSD, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. In our therapy we’ll address your needs by drawing from an array of researched-based models, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical-behavior therapy, trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing. You will feel safe, heard, and respected in our sessions, but also motivated and ultimately equipped to implement the changes you want to see in your life. I have witnessed the transformative power of therapy up close, and I know it can work for you. Let’s embark on this journey together!
Once we have settled on a plan for treatment, we can begin working towards your goals. This does not mean that we will work ONLY on your goals, or that the goals we identify at the outset cannot change. Much to the contrary, goals often change in therapy as one’s insight and self-knowledge develop. What is most important is that we create a safe environment for you to discuss any and everything that’s on your mind, with no fear of judgment. Therapy often requires some discomfort but you won’t end sessions feeling raw or vulnerable, but rather hopeful, energized and ready to face the rest of your day or week. You will learn new skills: tools to use in the present and future to help you restore the sense of control you may feel you have lost.
Though it could be dismissed as superficial, I believe a strength that sets me apart from other therapists is my voice. Since long before I decided to pursue a career in counseling, I have been told that I have an exceptionally “calming” voice. My demeanor, too, seems to inspire calm, and can be useful during sessions when stressful or upsetting topics are discussed. Another strength is my attitude towards feedback, which is that it is essential to a productive therapeutic relationship. You are the expert on you! So let’s not waste all that expertise by always deferring to me. In our therapy, you will be in the driver’s seat, with me beside you in passenger, helping you navigate.
It is undoubtedly important and valuable to develop skills to address the challenges we're experiencing in the present, but without understanding our pasts, it will be impossible to address the source of those challenges. That's were IFS comes in, which equips people with the insight and the self-compassion they need to make the deep and lasting changes they desire. I love the IFS framework because it allows people to visualize their parts, and to develop a more understanding, accepting relationship to those parts. And it's that acceptance that allows those parts to change.