Questions & Goals Counseling Can Address
Consider Counseling if you find yourself asking:
"How come I keep sabotaging relationships and, more importantly, how can I stop?”
“Why do our little arguments over nothing always end up turning into big deals?”
"Why do I feel so empty? What is the meaning in my life? Where is my passion?"
“Even though I have past successes, how come I keep fearing I’m not good enough or that something bad is going to happen?”
“Can I stop feeling so tired and irritable?”
“How do I let go of the past so I can be more free to live in today?”
Consider counseling if you want:
To perform at your best, despite everyday life stresses
To feel more satisfied in relationships
To enjoy life more and avoid burn out
To feel confident and less worried
To improve your physical health by increasing your mental resilience
To develop healthier, more effective patterns of thinking, feeling, talking, and acting
To feel supported while you deal with major life changing experiences
To discuss sensitive matters with a trained, experienced, and impartial third party
Is Counseling For Me?
Often I am asked if it is okay to pursue therapy from a psychologist for "minor" problems versus mental health conditions. In a similar vein, people often reveal to me their shame for pursuing therapy. They ask if they "need" therapy and whether receiving therapy means they are "weak." These are all common misconceptions.
I believe people who go to therapy are showing strength in many different ways: (1) commitment to continue to grow in life, (2) willingness to change, (3) openness to seeing themselves from a different perspective. Descriptors like "need" or "weak" are unfair. Instead, please consider that you are brave for engaging in this work.
My therapeutic experience, philosophy, and areas of interest make me an excellent match for people who may have concern about being judged for pursuing therapy when they know their lives are already highly privileged:
- I believe in understanding & striving towards YOUR goals, through a collaborative and empowering counseling style. The therapy focus is on growth rather than pathology so you can learn how to cultivate & build from your strengths and operate more in sync with your values.
- Considering most people's patterns and perceptions are developed out of prior relationships, usually the most effective way to heal/change is through new healthy relationships; such as the psychotherapy relationship I am able to co-develop with you.
- Two of my clinical supervisors during my doctorate training were the developers of the "Imposter Phenomenon", a condition that affects many highly successful achievers.
- My training also includes heightened attention to pressures placed on men and women, such as "boys shouldn't have feelings" or "girls shouldn't be assertive or selfish." With such messages we often come to believe we exist primarily to provide for/care for others and become disconnected with ourselves. I can help expand your sense of self to counter these common internalized limitations.
- Many "common" issues such as affairs, divorce, job loss, emptying the nest, and bereavement are ones that can take significant time to recover from, sometimes causing people concern about wearing out their support system or the frustration of not receiving more than empty reassurances. In my work I strive for a full exploration of one's experiences so your recovery is on your time table with specific focus on what is most important to you.