“Creating a safe space for growth” is not just catch phrase but an example of how I practice as a therapist. I try to create the sense of safety by talking “with” you and not “at” you, collaborating with you to find solutions to the problems that concern you, respecting the unique qualities that make up your personality, recognizing that you have a story to tell and listening carefully to the important elements of the narrative, and being honest with you in terms of what I feel, so ambiguity in our relationship is kept at a minimum.
Clients sometimes ask what theory I use in my practice. To answer that question, I believe that we are all part of the “system” in which we live, so I try to help you identify elements in that system that could be creating problems. We are also a system unto ourselves, so sometimes the work will focus on what is going on internally, what you are feeling, experiences you have had, and so forth.
Another FAQ involves dealing with the past. I do believe that what has happened to us previously significantly affects what we do and how we feel today. However, I am not a therapist who asks you to blame others but rather to determine if there is a connection between what has happened in past relationships and the present. Finally, I do not believe that resolution of concerns requires a rehashing of every negative event in your life. I do think it is important to gain enough awareness about your past in order to determine what you learned at that time and what you may need to “unlearn” now.
ServicesIndividual Therapy Couples/Marriage Therapy [Married/unmarried, same sex & heterosexual couples] Family Therapy Premarital Therapy Clinical Supervision for current masters and doctoral students and for post-masters and post-doctoral clinicians Consultation/training for organizationsAdditional ServicesIndividual Therapy