I often reflect back to the period of time when I decided to enter the field of psychology and counseling. There were many life challenges along the way that extended a hand in my decision to pursue a career in the world of behavioral health. I have spent the last 22 years growing as an effective clinician, learning along the way that achieving holistic health and reaping the rewards through genuine fulfillment, takes courage and calls for commitment of the mind, body, and soul. Commitment to therapy as a pathway to optimal emotional health is not inconceivable and is a journey you do not have to walk alone. Being a part of someone else's healing process, or "search for meaning" is an extraordinary experience and certainly a privilege.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Cultivating an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment is a vital part of the therapeutic experience. While it is important to keep the therapy work in mind, I find it as important to create a friendly and comfortable talking environment. An initial emphasis is encouraged on setting one's own comfort pace in sharing. Some people may be at a point where they truly need to get all their thoughts and emotions out without delay, while others may need to ease into it. There is no wrong answer here; the right answer is the one that feels right for you. Most of us desire to feel connected and are more likely to commit to therapy when it does not continuously feel like therapy, yet still arrive at the same successful outcome.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Feeling emotionally imbalanced can often feel frightening and overwhelming, worsened by the notion that you are going at it alone. My approach is action-oriented, thought challenging, but reliably embraced with humility, empathy, compassion, and human level connection. As a therapist, I do believe that there is much to be said on the art of motivation. There is even more to be said on inspirational influence and forming an alliance with purposefulness. Through an integrated and holistic approach to care, my hope is to help you find peace in accepting the things you cannot change; the inspiration, motivation, and courage to change the things that you can; and the insight to understand this difference.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My professional experiences in outpatient and inpatient settings - providing care, training and managing clinical and operational teams, developing treatment programs - have seasoned me in most behavioral health conditions, to include crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization. Despite these experiences, I embrace the importance in malleability of mind and perspective. I remain as much a student today as I was one to two decades ago and have resigned to the conception of life-long learning and personal growth.