I have been a clinician since 2006. During that time, I have worked as a crisis counselor, individual, group and couples counselor in both community mental health settings as well as private practice. I have had experience working with a wide range of concerns including mood disorders, relationship issues, abuse, grief & loss, addiction, and vocational challenges as well as those simply desiring personal growth. I believe in the therapeutic process because I know that it is effective. With help, you can change and you can heal. Over the years, I have collaborated with many brave individuals and have seen their transformation first hand. My role in the process is to provide you with a space where you are safe to speak freely, where you are confident that you will be heard, and to facilitate the process of discovery and healing. Just as each person is unique, each client has unique needs and the therapy must be tailored to each individual. I firmly believe that the most important part of effective therapy is the relationship between the therapist and client. Beyond any specific theory or technique, it is critical that you feel safe and comfortable with your therapist so that you can express what might feel unsayable otherwise. I would love to meet with you to see if I am a good fit for you. If not, I won't be offended and perhaps can help connect you with someone else. I want you to have the best counseling experience possible, whether that is with me or not. My priority is developing a trusting relationship with clients to ensure a foundation for healing.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The first session is an opportunity to ask any questions you might have (but don't feel pressure to have any). It is also a time for me to give you the general framework for therapy. I like to find out a little about any previous counseling experiences you've had to give me an idea of what was help and not helpful to you. From there, I find that it is often helpful to give you some time to just share what prompted you to reach out for counseling. There is often quite some time between thinking about counseling and actually starting so it can be helpful to just be heard for a bit. This can help me get a sense of where you are and what feels most pressing to you. Before we end, we can talk about next steps and how often we might meet going forward.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
It may seem obvious but I actually listen. I'm not waiting to talk or tell you what to do. I am not an expert trying impart wisdom. You know yourself better than anyone. I see my role as a guide who listens, asks questions and makes observations to help you grow your understanding of yourself and move towards increased health and healing.
About Lori Lorraine
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Integrative
I practice an integrative approach to counseling using both cognitive and psychodynamic techniques to not only address present symptoms, but also to begin identifying and resolving the underlying cause. Real change comes from getting at the root of problems rather than simply alleviating the symptoms. it is important to recognize symptoms as significant indicators (like a fever indicates an infection). Symptoms are clearly uncomfortable and certainly need to be attended to through the process of therapy, but should also be used as a guide to identify and resolve what is producing the symptoms. Discovering these root causes and understanding our responses is a collaborative process and often means exploring both the present and the past to recognize how different patterns and coping strategies developed as well as how they may be altered to enable a more healthful life. Have you ever wondered why you keep ending up in the same situations? We all have patterns that have evolved over the years. For many, they started as potentially helpful ways of coping with life but may no longer be helpful and, for some, even harmful. Thankfully, these negative patterns can be changed. Let me be clear, there is no set way to do this. It is about what you need and where you are. I have worked with people on a short term basis, focusing on a very specific concern, while others come for extended periods. It simply depends upon how deeply you want to explore yourself and your patterns.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
What you think about yourself, others and situations can directly impact how you feel and how you behave. The therapeutic process helps identify negative or dysfunctional thought patterns and alter them to, in turn, shift how you feel and respond. Your thoughts, feelings and behaviors all have value and each informs the others so none should be dismissed. Part of change and healing is exploring and unpacking each piece. I frequently tell clients that feelings are information and a sort of indicator light that tells you to pay attention. Therefore, we don't want to ignore your feelings but rather understand where they are coming from. This leads to exploring the underlying thoughts which, in the case of struggles such as anxiety and depression, are often negative and dysfunctional. These negative thoughts often lead to behaviors that are not helpful. The therapeutic work is to identify and shift the cognitive distortions to then change your choices and responses. However, I believe that it is not sufficient to simply identify and replace the negative thoughts, but it is also important to consider where they came from which provides context and allows for a shift at a much deeper level.
Christian Counseling
I am not a Biblical Counselor but rather a Christian who is a Clinical Counselor. My faith informs my understanding of the therapeutic process and how I practice. What does that mean? First of all, it means that I will not pathologize your beliefs or the role of your faith in healing. Second, if you are willing, I would be glad to work with you in exploring your view of God and how that relates to your view of others and view of yourself. It may also involve understanding how your faith informs your choices, patterns and coping strategies or processing through any challenges and doubts you may be experiencing. What doesn't it mean? I will not force you to talk about your faith, but I will provide a safe place should you choose to do so.