LMFT, 25 years of experience
I am a Marriage Family Therapist, and I have been in practice for over 25 years. I am a firm believer that the system in which an individual was raised has an impact on how an individual's personal relationships, behavior pattern, and life choices are interconnected with the issue they face in their life. The good news is that we all have the ability of changing the patterns we want to change in our lives. It is your own personal story, and you decide on the ending.
I like to hear a little about the client's family of origin and what brings them to counseling. I also would like to know if they have had previous counseling and what didn't work for them. This will help me in determining a personal treatment plan.
I am able to pace with my clients by being compassionate and understanding. I help the client see the finish line at the start but focusing on one mile at a time.
The client that is motivated to make changes has the best chance in being successful. The internal drive is a powerful force which once turned on is unstoppable. It is the fuel that goes the extra mile and leaves fear behind. I mention fear because change can be scary but once you are on the other side the struggle will be worth it.
The therapist will ask open-ended questions about your feelings toward a potential change or action. They then reflect your thought back to you in a way that emphasizes your own reason for change. This process helps the client to tap into their motives to change and what they want to change. The therapist goes along side of the client with empathy and compassion to encourage those changes.
CBT treatment involves efforts to change thinking patterns such as recognize one's distorted thinking that are creating problem, gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others, using problem solving skills to cope with difficult situations and can be used to develop a great sense of confidence in one's own abilities.
Couples Counseling aims to improve communication, resolving conflicts, improving intimate relationships and repairing emotional bonds. The process helps the partners understand the other's perspective and develop healthier relationship.