Is life not how you want or planned for it to be? Are the sources of stress and worry creating a daily struggle? The human journey is fraught with peril and navigating the challenges we face can feel overwhelming. I am Jon Mark Bormann, a licensed clinical professional counselor. I believe that the goal of therapy is to restore enjoyment to life. Through accessing your strengths and discovering the rich narratives of your life, pathways of flourishing will be revealed. I have been working with persons facing the varied struggles of human existence for 20 years in clinical, hospital, religious and military settings. I have witnessed the power that therapy has to change life for the better even in the direst of circumstances. I will challenge you to places of depth. Knowing that through the challenging work of delving deeply into lived experience and emotions your life will feel different.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The difficulties that bring a person to therapy have had a tremendous impact upon the psyche. My under-girding principle is that all persons possess the strength to transform their lives. While the circumstances that surround a person cannot be changed, the power to adapt and overcome will be fortified. Throughout the therapeutic journey you will experience the wherewithal to overcome challenges.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
The predominate treatment modality is narrative therapy. We are shaped by divergent influences that order our lives. When these stories no longer work in our lived experience or they conflict with other stories, we reach a point of crisis. In this place of tension we may struggle to articulate and give story to what we are facing. This experience is often felt internally as dis-order, but the problems that are experienced in this life are not who we are; the problem is the problem. Through discovering new articulations of the story of our lives, we become more adept at facing the challenges of this lived experience.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My strength is that I see strengths in others. Therapy should be a life changing experience. I encourage the handwork of therapy because it leads to a return of enjoyment and human flourishing. I have had great success with those who have been through the gauntlet of superficial treatments that tell others how to live. You are the expert on your life and how it is to be lived. As an active military member I have worked closely with veterans and first responders, and the unique experiences faced. I have extensive experience in helping people navigate their religious and spiritual journeys. I bring years of expertise in bereavement and grief work. I am active in the community as an ally of LGBTQ+ persons through work and leadership with multiple organizations.