New to Grow
I am a therapist who's lived 65 years, been through her own struggles, hopes to be there for you. Life feels better with good, safe company, where you're free to say what you think and who you are. I have had the honor of being with many people through their suffering. I've witnessed so much courage, so much pain, so much longing and despair. There's a recurring theme of people being lost in some way. They call it the human condition. You don't have to be alone through the suffering.
The first question: what brings you here? I really want to hear you describing yourself, your world, your strengths, your struggles, your wishes and intentions. You may feel empty, have no answers to those questions, have no idea even what questions you have for yourself. That's OK. Maybe you want someone to listen and be with you as you sort through your life. How can I make it a safe place for you? what works and doesn't work for you? Do you even know? Let's start with the first thought about being in therapy, what started that thought?
In my own life I've experienced terror, grief, longing, depression, anxiety, and more. I have also been an addict and been with addicts. Those experiences allow me to be with you, no matter what you're feeling, without judgment. That is what I offer you. Most of us experienced many judgments from others, sometimes leading to judgments about others, resulting in isolation, pain, and loneliness. You do not have to be in pain and alone. I offer you a safe place for exploration, for feelings, for a path that's yours, or a place to express what you cannot express with others in your life.
Anyone who feels overwhemed or sad or lost. Maybe you lost someone you love, maybe you're struggling with an addiction, maybe you're struggling to live day-to-day. Your goals may be self-acceptance, life acceptance, coping with grief, treating yourself with kindness, the best treatment you can provide for yourself. Your goals could be to accept your self, your life, your needs. Maybe you need to speak up for yourself more. Maybe you're struggling with an addiction, you want to take better care of yourself. Maybe you lost someone very dear to you, you're trying to live with all the pain of losing someone you deeply loved. Whatever happened inside or outside of you, you need a safe spot to reveal yourself, your feelings, and your needs.
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
There are stages; getting to know you and your goals and needs; touching on historically what has formed who you are now; exploring what works best for you as well as the tools for change that support you. The emphasis is on what feels safe for you.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I want to know you, exploring your sense of yourself, wondering about your path, your dreams, your fears.