Unresolved pain and fear from “doin’ life” often fuel anger, anxiety, and addictive behaviors that destroy relationships and turn life into a “cardboard dirt sandwich with a side of sawdust.” I provide collaborative telehealth counseling services designed to help individuals and couples untangle the struggles that impact their lives and relationships. My approach helps people stop carrying the weight of their problems alone. You don’t have to hide or suppress your challenges—they’re not a reflection of who you are. I use Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves (and their loved ones) from the problems they face. This process allows you to externalize your challenges rather than burying them deep inside. When problems remain internalized, they begin to feel like part of your identity—but your problems do not define you. Other people aren’t the problem either. Problems are just problems. Your interpretation of those problems, the outcomes they lead to, and how you try to solve them have a huge influence on your sense of self, emotional stability, and behaviors. In turn, these behaviors impact your relationships—and relationships shape your ability to enjoy life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The first session is all about getting to know each other. At the heart of every successful therapeutic journey is the relationship between the counselor and client—research consistently shows that this connection is the most important factor in the success and effectiveness of therapy. I want to understand: Why now? Why, at this point in your life, have you taken the step to schedule this appointment? Your motivations—whether driven by pain, curiosity, or a desire for change—are essential for shaping our work together. Understanding what brought you here helps us begin with intention and focus. This first session is also your chance to get to know me, my approach, and my philosophy. It’s where we’ll begin to explore what you’re looking for and start setting some initial goals. Think of it as the first step in building a collaborative relationship that’s centered on your unique needs and aspirations.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am a strengths-based counselor who seeks to normalize what we call 'LIFE.' Using humor and a narrative, life-story approach, I help people develop and refine the psychological-fitness skills needed to improve the quality of their lives. I’ve lived through many challenges myself—recovery from addiction, rebuilding after financial devastation, and grieving the loss of two of my four children, who passed away far too soon. These experiences, combined with my personality, clinical training, and professional background, shape the way I work with clients. In addition to my counseling practice, I’ve gained clinical experience in a variety of settings, including ERs, Community Mental Health, and Private Practice. I’ve also had the privilege of teaching and touring as a keynote speaker, sharing insights and stories from my own life and professional work. Drawing from these personal and professional experiences, I aim to help people plan for and achieve the life they’ve always wanted. Together, we work to develop new perspectives, embrace challenges, and build the skills needed to navigate life with greater confidence and meaning.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Individuals and couples who suffer from anxiety that leads to anger, relationship conflict, and addictions.
About Bob Zima
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Narrative
Narrative therapy seeks to separate us from our problems. In narrative therapy, problems are problems while people are people. People are never problems. We are never the problem. Our family and friends are never the problem. The problem is the problem. By sharing life stories of the past, present, and future I help clients disconnect themselves from the dysfunctional behaviors, unwanted emotions, and lousy outcomes that sometimes plague their lives.
Reality Therapy
Plan. Do. Check. Act. These are four basic steps that can miraculously improve the quality of our lives. When it comes to creating better coping, problem-solving, and communication skill sets, we must plan. We must implement new skills and strategies. We must check out the effectiveness and efficiency of these skills and strategies, and when necessary modify and adjust. Reality therapy helps us make a reasonable and executable plan to improve the quality of our lives.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
We think. We feel. We act. When in a therapy session, Thinking, feeling and acting are discussed in a linear fashion. The reality is that life is process oriented and circular. Understanding how our thoughts Drive automatic emotions which are then expressed through behaviors is a key to improving our overall mental wellness. if we change how we think we will change how we feel and we will change how we act ultimately leading to different outcomes.
Motivational Interviewing
If a baseball bat worked to motivate people to make changes, I'd use it. But it doesn't. I use Motivational Interviewing because this theory respects the reality that most of us find change a bit difficult and occasionally unappealing. I use motivational interviewing to explore the possibilities of change and how, if those changes are possible, my client's lives may be different, healthier, and more enjoyable.
Humanistic
There isn't a single research study in the world that doesn't support that the therapeutic and professional relationship between counselor and counsel is the single most important factor in therapy being effective. In session, I am me, warts and all. I strive to be authentic, genuine, and transparent and I seek the same for my clients as we connect and work.