My Approach to Helping
For 35 years I've had the good fortune to help adults feel better about themselves & their relationships. My style is warm, straight-forward, & collaborative. I use a strength-based approach and have had success helping with a broad range of life's problems.
Issues I enjoy working with include: changing relationship patterns, mid-life issues, women's issues, work-life balance, boundaries and "people-pleasing", assertiveness and self-confidence, and grief and loss.
I love to work with family-of origin issues, and help to re-work faulty beliefs rooted in childhood.
I work collaboratively with each of my clients to create a specific plan based on strengths, needs, and goals. Depending on what your needs are we may:
1. work psychodynamically: The goals of psychodynamic therapy are to increase self-awareness and understanding of how the past has influenced current life. From there you are freed up to experiment with new ways of being. When you take a risk and do something differently it becomes part of who you are. Old patterns are interrupted and new ways of living are created.
2. work cognitive- behaviorally: The goals of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are to explore how distorted beliefs may be affecting your current feelings & behavior. By exploring and challenging negative or distorted thoughts, you are then challenged to change related feelings and behavior.
3. work to resolve abuse by weaving back and forth between the "here & now" and the past.
I also have several women's personal development groups and believe strongly in the power of groups. I'm a seasoned group psychotherapist and am a Certified Group Psychotherapist through the American Group Psychotherapy Association.
Group Offerings:
Midlife Women's Group-- Alternate Wednesday eves 4:15-5:30pm. (75 minutes) $60 per session (This group will have one opening in January 2025)
The Third Act: a Monthly Virtual Group for Women 55+ begins January 2025
"30 Somethings" Women's Group: meets monthly on fourth Friday 12:30-2:15pm (105 min). $80 per session. This group is currently full.
"3040 Somethings" Women's Group: meets monthly on fourth Friday 3:00-4:45pm (105 min). $80 per session. This group will have an opening in January 2025.
Group often becomes a highlight & touchstone in the week of group members. It's a unique space to learn more about yourself in the company of other women, and a place for meaningful, growth-oriented conversations.
Women in my groups tend to be self-aware, supportive of each other, and generally content in most areas of life. Groups are designed to be supportive & growth-enhancing, and are not designed to treat mental illness or crisis situations.
Feel free to contact me for more information, or if you are curious about a group experience.
I'm also privileged to be a WA State Certified Clinical Supervisor, and enjoy supervising
new therapist associates as they work toward licensure.
