Clients often come to therapy because of their symptoms - feeling anxious, confused, depressed, trouble sleeping, addiction, not functioning at work, or distress in relationships.

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One of the first things we do is to do a thorough intake assessment - which is to get clear on what your symptoms are and how to begin to stabilize the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are derailing you from living your life.

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But people are not their symptoms....

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We are humans, not diagnoses.  While labels can be helpful and useful (especially to insurance companies!), diagnoses do not tell the story of who we are and where we come from.  In therapy, I take a non-pathologizing approach.  I believe that many symptoms are in fact parts that have evolved in us to serve some purpose.  For example, anxiety can be an "alarm" that we perceive something to be dangerous or scary.  The problem is, although they may have once helped us to survive, they often do not work to live out a healthy adult life.  I try to help folks not just get their symptoms under control, but look for the deeper possible causes to those symptoms.

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People heal through relationships...

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My approach to therapy is to go beyond treating symptoms.  I prefer to go deeper into my clients' histories and what made contributed to where they are in life now.  Specifically, I believe everything starts and ends with attachment.  Attachment is the bond we have with (often) a caregiver that gives us safety, security and ultimately a sense of self worth.  Sometimes though, people grow up with different amounts of safety, security, and consistency from those around them - and this affects the way they learn to see themselves, others (especially relationship partners), and the world at large.  

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In therapy, while we work on the "issues," we are also working on a secondary process - that of building relationship.  It is often said that what transpires in therapy mimics the relationship issues on the outside world.  In therapy, I help model what safe and secure interpersonal relationships might look like, and we work together on how this can facilitate other positive outcomes in your day-to-day life.

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Some therapy doesn't even need much talk...

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For people who have experienced past trauma, stuck points, or things they can't move past, there are forms of therapy in which not much talking needs to happen at all.  Specifically, I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), which involves the therapist guiding clients through distressing images or "scenes" - all while incorporating bilateral stimulation.  Some people might be familiar with EMDR, which also incorporates bilateral stimulation in the form of eye movements or tapping.  This combination helps the brain lessen the emotional intensity of a memory or a stuck point, and allows the brain to see it another way.  ART says, "keeps the facts, but lose the intensity."  If this is something you may be interested in, feel free to bring it up and discuss it more!

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Learn more about Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) here:  

https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/