LPCC, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! Some surface details about myself include that I am in my mid-50's, I am married with two young adult children, and I usually have a few too many pets. Therapy is my second main occupation, the first one being an elementary school teacher for 15 years prior. All this to say, I have lots of people experience both in my work and personal life. I take a holistic approach to therapy which includes the four aspects of the human: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual (this last one referring to the spiritual component of a human being, not a religion). I also focus the person within the context of his or her life: job, home life, relationships. While I have assisted people with some very tough stuff over the years, I also typically find a way to work some humor in sessions when it's appropriate. Laughter is good medicine!
During our first session, I will be performing most, if not all, of the intake. This intake gives me a fuller picture of you: your strengths, your challenges, and the environment in which you live and work. If you have a longer story, it might take us two sessions to complete. The intake is also where I will be giving at least a preliminary diagnosis. I don't do this secretly! I go through the criteria for a particular diagnosis with you. We will be working as a team throughout therapy. And also, please remember that while part of intake is to give a diagnosis, mental/emotional health issues are something you are dealing with, they aren't WHO you are.
My therapeutic approach is holistic and person-centered. I lead with compassion and do my best to encourage self-compassion with all clients. Sessions with me occur in a No Judgement Zone. While we might be taking about hard truths, judgment is not part of the equation. I specialize in assisting people with directing their own mental traffic, letting the grass grow over old mental paths and forging new kinder and more helpful ones. I also teach skills to assist clients in creating calm in their beings on a daily basis with mindfulness (which is just a fancy word for bringing your mind into present-moment awareness). I have a strength-based approach. No matter what's going on in your life, there is some strength in you somewhere! And, I suppose that finally (and related to the no judgment piece) is I assist clients in letting go of mental constructs which aren't very helpful including good/bad, right/wrong and replacing those with more useful constructs that move away from judgment and utilize wise discernment instead. The techniques I use are varied as I do my best to match the technique with the client. I have seen many clients who stuck with what I have to offer make significant and positive changes in their lives.
I will work with anyone willing to take action on the change he/she desires in his/her life. No matter what's going on in your life and how long it's been going on, if you are willing to be open-minded and apply some of the new mindsets I will be giving you, sessions with me will be beneficial. You are the expert of your life, however even experts have "blind spots." If you need assistance with identifying and letting go of patterns that no longer serve you, I can do that. If you need some techniques to calm yourself or to lift your own spirits, I can help. If you need to learn to love yourself, I'm on it. You create your own life! I can assist you in aligning your mind and actions to create the life you truly desire.
Change your mind, change your behaviors, change your life. Or, change your behavior, change your mind, change your life. CBT is a fairly broad term within which I also incorporate techniques such as mindfulness practice and self-compassion and acceptance techniques.