LMFT, 4 years of experience
I am a husband of 14 years, a father of a 11 y/o neurodivergent son and a 7 y/o precocious daughter, a veteran of the US Navy with 12 years served, including 1 deployment, and a geek. I am what the Japanese culture describes as an otaku, in that I work to support my passions. In my free time I enjoy video games (mostly on Nintendo Switch), movies (all kinds, although my favorite is the 2005 animated Transformers movie), books (current favorite author is Brandon Sanderson), and spending time with my family.
The first session is one to get to know each other and develop a treatment plan. We will explore the reason for seeking therapy, what is going on currently that is creating stress/discord in life, and how to address this.
I feel like my greatest strengths are how approachable and personable I am, as well as my varied background which gives me a greater capacity to relate with others, due to having been in so many different situations.
Do you find your desire to escape from the struggles of life interfering with your enjoyment of said life? Are you struggling to feel connected with others and/or yourself? Does the past weigh you down? Do worries/fears about the "what ifs" interfere with your ability to decide what to do? Are there other questions and concerns "tossing around in the old noggin?" If so, please keep reading to see how I may be able to help you help yourself. I understand what you are going through. At one time or another I have struggled with many of these dilemmas. I have learned, through my own experience, as well as the wisdom of others, to develop tools to endure well and come through stronger. I would be honored to pass the lessons on to you. I believe that wisdom is where experience meets action. I have a 3-part foundation that I have built my life and my therapeutic approach upon. First is that "what we believe is real and already valid, no matter what others may say." Second is that "our perception is our reality." Third is "we can do whatever we want, so long as we are willing to deal with the consequences of the choice." Want to know more?
I utilize CBT to increase awareness of, and challenge, anxious or negative thoughts that are impairing a client's ability to focus or accomplish desired/necessary tasks. I have been utilizing CBT, at least in part, since I began my licensure processes in 2017.
I have been working with couples since obtaining my license. I believe that the 3 key ingredients to a healthy relationship, particularly an intimate one, are: healthy and effective communication; clearly communicated and consistently enforced boundaries; and humility. My approach in couples counseling involves focusing on these three points, to improve the quality of the relationship.
I find that no one therapy approach works for every client, and that each model brings a different, and often helpful, view and approach. As such, I work with my clients to develop the most effective treatment plan for them, often using pieces of multiple models, rather than trying to fit my clients into a particular model's box.