Therapeutic Approach
I have clinical training in a variety of psychotherapy approaches which include Family Systems Therapy, Bowenian Family of Origin Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), and the Psycho-Biological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT). My graduate and post-graduate training have all been in strength-based approaches to change that believe, as I do, in the strength of the human body/mind/spirit to heal. I believe that within a safe, supportive context the body/mind/spirit’s innate ability to heal and to seek health will do just that. That once the burdens that constrain problems from changing have been identified, understood and released, people and relationships will transform.
The first step in any good counseling/therapy is beginning to establish trust in the relationship with your therapist. Trust that he/she is knowledgeable, experienced, will listen and “really hear” you and the problems you are experiencing and that they can help you in a safe way. Treatment with me will start out with the focus on this very important component to therapy. There will be space provided at the beginning of treatment, and all through the therapy process, for any questions, concerns, doubts, fears that you may have about any aspect of the therapy/counseling process.
My therapy can be seen as being very collaborative in that we will work together to help you, your family,your relationship to find peace and happiness and relief from suffering. Often clients will be given reading assignments, and other assignments for outside the therapy hour. Frequently, I encourage my clients to journal about their daily life and their therapy experiences as a way of facilitating the change process. Often this very simple practice greatly speeds the time people spend in therapy.
With your permission, when needed, I will collaborate with other health and mental health providers to ensure good clinical care is provided. Also with your permission I will contact physicians and/or psychiatrists if/when medication is needed. I take a conservative approach to referring for medication assessment or evaluation. I believe that when needed, medications for symptoms like depression or anxiety can be very helpful, but should be viewed as a short-term intervention and only as a part of more comprehensive treatment plan where psychotherapy is the cornerstone of the change process.
Any course of treatment will only be pursued with your full informed consent. Occasionally people find there is relief from present difficulties after just talking through and gaining clarity about their problems. Sometimes after getting through the initial first steps of treatment, people find their symptoms have subsided enough that they elect to discontinue therapy. You are encouraged to stay with the treatment so as to ensure that the symptoms or problems don’t return and that future difficulties don’t set you back. For those that continue with treatment through all the steps, there are great rewards to be gained.
Even if you elect to discontinue treatment after some initial relief, you can always come back to see me at any time.