If you are feeling stuck, and unable to make changes in your life, you're not alone. Whether it's in your professional life, your personal life, or both, feeling unsuccessful at doing life may affect your mood, your outlook, and your health. Repeated frustration and disappointment can lead to depression, anxiety, problems sleeping, etc. For 20 years, I have worked with people to help them unlearn negative behaviors and thinking patterns, replacing them with new habits and ideas that support the changes they want to make. Through experiencing success, most people find a new sense of accomplishment that improves their mood, enabling them to take better care of themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally, Deciding to enter into therapy is an important decision. I believe that it can be a major turning point in your life, and by working through a modality that considers your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, you are very likely to achieve the quality of life that you are seeking.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, we will sort out what your goals and expectations are in therapy. This will include any previous experience with therapy, including medications, reasons for leaving, etc. We can discuss any pre-conceived ideas you have about therapy, and set a realistic concept of how our process will work. This is your opportunity to evaluate me as a therapist, such as my communication style, demeanor, my approach. It's very important that you feel free to make the right choice for yourself!

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

I work primarily in a Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy mode. This theory was developed by Albert Ellis. It is extremely effective in helping clients achieve balance between these areas of their lives, allowing the therapist to draw from a variety of interventions, such as homework, role-playing, meditation, journaling, as well as traditional talk therapy.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I am very good at establishing a safe, trusting environment. Clients have reported that they felt they could tell me anything, and they wouldn't be judged, that they felt understood. Many times I was the first person they felt they could disagree with and not be abandoned. We could work on the issues they struggled with without fear of losing a job or a relationship. I have always had a special interest in multicultural issues, especially related to conflict between 2 or more cultures, and/or generational conflict.

About Kelly Douglas