My Approach to Pyschotherapy

I am an ‘eclectic’ psychotherapist and marriage counselor (as is common for most other experienced therapists), working from a foundation of knowledge and training in cognitive-behavioral theory and practice, humanistic approaches, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and transpersonal processes (the psychology of meaning and spirituality).

What does that actually mean? It means that I have been in practice a long time and don’t fit neatly into just one box like you don’t fit in just one box. That’s the key. Your needs are unique to you. Our work together will be a joint effort bringing together all that both of us know in a way that helps you achieve your goals. As you move beyond your initial presenting problem or crisis situation, you may well be delighted and surprised about achieving things in treatment you didn’t imagine or know were possible when you first inquired about therapy.

For example, you might not recognize how much shame and guilt you carry, or how those feelings affect you. Likely, you take them for granted as normal and something that could never change, without realizing how they interfere with your well-being and confidence. As we explore a particular issue, some of this shame and guilt might be revealed and lead to the awareness that these feelings are affecting many other areas of your life, and are an anchor for much-hidden suffering. Both can be important underlying causes for shyness, fearfulness, sadness, anger, loneliness, and other unhappy states. Their discovery and resolution bring a sense of mastery and freedom.

Therapeutic change that has a lasting effect takes time. Generally speaking, I am a ‘long term’ psychotherapist, which means that I work with people in individual or relationship counseling for at least one year, the length depending on your goals, your issues, and the psychological experience and knowledge you bring to this process. Sometimes a more focused and short term intervention is required and more useful in a specific situation.

Change requires action; and therapy suggests and supports that action. When we can’t take the desired action (i.e. speak up for ourselves or control our anger) then we can inquire together for the anchors that inhibit the change and try yet again. It’s a trial and error process, with each trial providing more awareness and more possibilities, even when the desired goal isn’t at first achieved.

Again I use an active, caring, eclectic approach, drawing from knowledge and practice in family/relationship systems theory and practice, communications processes including the principles underlying Imago therapy, and individual psychodynamics and addictions which might otherwise torpedo effective relationship work.

Group therapy and workshops are used in combination with individual therapy and are an extremely effective treatment modality for deeper, more sustainable change and growth. My groups are co-ed and made up of people much like yourself, who are working on long term change and growth.