LICSW, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
Those who would seek my services would appreciate the fact that I am a seasoned therapist with life experience. I learn from my crash and burns in life. I have been a successful business owner. Have experienced a challenging marriage with stepchildren and divorce. Years of committed single parenting, coaching, camping, skiing, and a caregiver of older parents; A subsequent faith-based happy marriage. Extensive world traveler and an insatiable curiosity about EVERYTHING. Im no longer 30-years -old, I'll admit , but I thrive on strenuous daily workouts- pickleball, yoga, walking our golden retriever "grandpup", sailing. Im an optimist, not afraid to fall down and get dirty. I believe in the basic goodness of people.
On our first session I want you to just dump everything out on the table and sort through what you brought with you. Why did you reach out now? What were you facing? We'll be starting to build the foundation of our work together. How would your best friend describe you? What have been the highlights in your life? Have you had therapy before? What are you hoping to take away from our work? I want you to know that I look forward to working with you! Extra points for those who bring photos of their kids or pets.
Did I tell you I was curious? I love walk -and -talks. Feel free to bring your pet. I am a good listener but may see things different from how you see them.... and we'll talk about "reframing."
People i most enjoy working with know that life is what you make it and aren't afraid to try. Therapy is hard work sometimes! When I suggest homework, they give it a shot. If they dont understand the assignment they text me and give me a chance to clarify or say "fahgettaboutit." I enjoy working with people who ask questions and have had positions of responsibility. People who read something that they find hilarious or profound and text me about it .
Sometimes experiencing or re-experiencing something with a different ending helps us move past a hurt. This may involve re-enacting unfinished business with a loved one or a work confrontation where you wish you had said something more in your favor or theirs, possibly ending up with an actual re-do. Working up to appoaching someone you'd like to know better may involve becoming aware of conflicting parts of yourself. Recognizing and respecting your protections is a necessary step to moving through them to a more empowered place. Talk therapy is helpful, but having a DOING experience opens the heart in a way words alone dont. This is also a form of Exposure Therapy
IF you are prone to procrastinate or cannot understand why you have a strong reaction to certain people or situations it can be debilitating unless you can begin to trust that there is a part of you that is a calm overseer that begins to recognize there are parts of you that have been hurt in the past or even traumatized. Recognition of the source of your extreme reactions is the start to healing. This compassionate or loving parent part of you increasingly steps in to calm you and help keep you from judging yourself, instead encouraging self compassion. Your inner dialogue starts to sound encouraging and good natured...." Come on, sweetheart, you know you can DO this!!
There are four types of behavior traits that may thwart your ability to have a close, trusting relationship, regardless of how much you want it or try to have one. If you can make a variety of friendships easily and share intimate disclosures comfortably you probably had a secure home life. IF you are somewhat wary of others, fearing rejection or loss of independence, you suspect you're usually anxious and hyper- sensitive to imagined slights. It seems safer to stay aloof., even dismissive. Finally, if you experienced times when things were close and other times of absence or illness, you may experience a push-pull with others seeking closeness. The key to this kind of therapy is to build awareness of origins and commit yourself to expanding your tolerance of wanting to push away.