Hi, I have been a licensed professional counselor for over 30 years. I love helping people navigate their way through difficulties and get to a better place. I help people assess what they think they need help with, and as we uncover other things we address those as well. There is no judgement, only healing.
In our first session we will start with a brief introduction. Then we will identify your expectations for therapy, as well as any experience in therapy before. What worked? What didn't work? What was helpful. We will also review some of your history and family of origin. Once we have identified your needs, we can work on a collaborative treatment plan.
I believe that therapy is about working with clients and getting them to a better place. I really look at a person's ability to function, problem solve, and develop coping skills and help them improve/learn those tools. I think being direct about what we are doing, and taking an honest look at what is going on is very important. It can be hard sometimes, but it is important to the healing process. I think it is important for the client to set know what the treatment plan is and HOW it is going to help them.
I love working with adults who are motivated to address their concerns, and what is impairing their ability to function at their best. With multiple therapeutic approaches, I can help a person navigate through those difficult times. Sometimes it is not a specific thing, but more their approach and in that instance, I can help teach a person new skills, new ways of thinking, and thus be very successful in therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients get in touch with how their feelings, thoughts and behaviors intermingle and interact, causing issues in all areas or just one. My belief is if we can change one, we can change the others. It helps clients get in touch with what is really going on. Identifying "core beliefs" we have learned in our lives, and how to change our narrative. Clients will learn how to use thought records, examine the evidence of their beliefs, as well as learn how to dispute negative thinking.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT helps clients accept what is...and how to integrate that into their life. It is a great modality to help people live with things that are unchangeable, and how to change those things that can be changed.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
This is a great therapy to help people who have experienced trauma process through it and learn how to "live" with the experiences with less impact on their day to day life. It is not reliving what happened, but more just processing through how it has affected who they are today.
Collaborative Management and Assessment of Suicidality (CAMS)
This is a structured curriculum to help people at risk of suicidality calm those thoughts, impulses and behaviors and stabilize their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It is really a great tool kit for a person to have.
Daialectical Behavior (DBT)
Sometimes distress tolerance is a big problem for people with depression or anxiety, for example. DBT helps give a person tools that enable them to handle those negative emotions more effectively.