I have always been intrigued about the ways our life stories and experiences shape how we see and feel about ourselves and the world. My curiosity peaked when I studied early childhood development. As a pre-school teacher, and later, an art teacher to elementary and middle school aged children, I worked closely with the children and their families. My experience in the classroom inspired me to become a therapist. My first love, however, is art making. I enjoy using colors, lights, and darks to create images. In the same way I enjoy using art materials and tools, I enjoy using and teaching clients the therapeutic tools and techniques to help them access their inner wisdom, increase their awareness and to identify and work through barriers and issues to create fuller lives and relationships.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, I will ask you questions to help you tell me the challenges you are facing and what you would like to achieve in therapy. Then, together we will work on a plan to help you reach your goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have always been intrigued about the ways our life stories and experiences shape how we see and feel about ourselves and the world. My curiosity peaked when I studied early childhood development. As a pre-school teacher, and later, an art teacher to elementary and middle school aged children, I worked closely with the children and their families. My experience in the classroom inspired me to become a therapist. My first love, however, is art making. I enjoy using colors, lights, and darks to create images. In the same way I enjoy using art materials and tools, I enjoy using and teaching clients the therapeutic tools and techniques to help them access their inner wisdom, increase their awareness and to identify and work through barriers and issues to create fuller lives and relationships.
About Vivian Johnson
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Throughout the treatment experience, I provide you with a safe space as you to share your story and gain insight and understanding of your emotions. I will meet you where you and work with you collaboratively by listening and asking you open ended questions compassionately without judgement. With this approach, you will learn how to welcome your emotions without resistance and gain insight. You will learn how to regulate and understand where unhelpful emotions come from and how to change them.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I will utilize cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies to help you identify what is known as the CBT triangle – which is an effective strategy that will help you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns. You will learn how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all connected.
Psychodynamic
I will use the psychodynamic therapeutic approach to help you to gain more insight into your life and present-day problems and issues. To do this, I will help you uncover recurring unhelpful thought, emotional and behavioral patterns, as well as the defense mechanisms that may have developed to avoid distress and cope with stress. This insight will allow you to begin changing those patterns and develop more helpful and healthier ways to cope with life stressors.
Couples Counseling
Are you in a relationship and are struggling to work through problems on your own? Are you finding that nothing is working and nothing is improving? Are you floundering to find your way out of the patterns that end up in the same place of frustration and sadness? Want to make it better but do not know how? Before you lose hope, I want you to know that there are strategies to help you and your partner to turn back toward each other instead of away. Rather than feeling alone, feel again like you are in it together. I will provide and teach you the skills to help you improve communication. I will guide you through strategies to help you work through and heal ruptures that happened in the past that continue to cause pain. I will provide you with the safe space to talk about the hard things, to heal, repair and let go of the hurt turn to love.
