My Approach to Helping
At the most basic level, the "success" of therapy depends on the connection between the client and therapist. This makes sense. Both parties involved should, ideally, feel comfortable with one another to not only express themselves but to trust that the feedbackadvice given by the therapist will be compassionate, appropriate and be understood by the client. I come from a strengths perspective background. I believe we have what it takes to create the lives we desire, but because of past historytrauma, those strengths become buried under a mound of doubt, insecurity and fear. Our job together will be to clear the pile and see what we have to work with. This is the real work. This is the good stuff.
My training as a therapist as well as my 11 years in corporate settings provides my clients the chance to express and implement their goals to create more meaningful lives. I've been helping people in my practice for over 15 years. I continue to feel excited about the solid results that good therapy can deliver. To be heard and understood is priceless.
I am a relatable guy. I don't judge. I'm easy to get along with. My clients respond well to me ( I think it's the Midwestern in me). My desire is to provide a warm, caring and respectful and safe environment in order for you to share your challenges, your pain, your desires. We will work together. We can't do this alone. I'll be your partner along the way.
Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist
When I have been in the market for a home or car, I look for comfort. I want to visualize myself on my best days and my worst days, feeling at peace. Feeling the warmth, the safety, the comfort. I want to feel that I have put on my coziest sweater and sweatpants (sorry, from the East Coast) and I can just relish lounging in these articles of clothing in this space I have chosen for myself. That is the feeling you want to look for when you choose a therapist. You are sharing your fears, your past, your dreams, your loves with an individual you have no clear understanding of. But maybe you have that feeling.."this feels right."
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
As a client, don't let yourself get hung up on the letters after the therapist's name. Yes, it can mean specific qualifications--all that is good. But the important piece of this is the relationship that is formed between the therapist and the client. I cannot begin to stress to you the importance of this. If you have a tight alliance with your therapist you are going to be in that special group of clients that will probably feel that you are on the right path, that you are achieving, moving forward. A tight alliance will allow you as the client to take risks, inside and outside of the session room. A tight alliance will allow the therapist to be authentic, to be real--even if it may be something that is difficult to hear. We come to therapy to heal, to shed the shit that is not working, and this sometimes involves hearing things that may be tough to digest. A strong relationship with your therapist can accomplish this.