LMFT, 20 years of experience
Hello, I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20 plus years of providing individual, couples, and family therapy in private practice. I have worked extensively with substance use/abuse and addiction in outpatient clinical programs. I have provided therapy for people with serious mental illness and their family members in both outpatient and inpatient settings. I believe that people entering therapy need to be heard and validated in their feelings and thoughts. Therapy should include clear goal setting and be collaborative in the identification and setting of those goals. Having dealt with family and relationship issues in therapy provides me with a personal perspective and helps me understand the clients subjective experience.
In our first session I want to learn who you are, to develop an understanding of your concerns, hear your feelings/thoughts about these issues. Also, what any previous therapy experience has been like, and what's been helpful or hindered your attempts to resolve your problem(s). We'll identify your goals for therapy and begin the initial process toward achieving them.
I have worked with a variety of clients over the past 20 plus years of experience. This includes drug/alcohol issues, relationship difficulties, serious mental health problems, family conflicts, anxiety/depression, situational adjustment (relocation, career changes, sudden loss), and basic existential difficulties relating to identity/self-esteem or lack of direction in life.
I look forward to working with people who wish to improve their lives by addressing personal issues that impact their relationships, careers, quality of life or other significant behavior problems.
I use a variety of therapeutic methods (e.g. Solution Based, CBT, Supportive, Experiential, Motivational Interviewing) based on my assessment and understanding of a client's personality, communication style, and needs. I find that developing a rapport through hearing the client's expressed feelings and identified goals is primary to determining what will best address the goals of therapy.