My Approach to Helping
I work with adolescents and adults who are struggling with painful emotions, to create a more meaningful life, cope more effectively with stress and improve their relationships. You may be here because your life is feeling a bit out of control. You may be feeling depressed or anxious, possibly frustrated with emotions that change quickly. Or, you may be struggling with changes in your life, or a difficult relationship. You may have friends or family who quickly give you advice about what you should or shouldn't be doing. They're trying to be helpful, but sometimes it feels like they just don't understand.
Our emotions rise out of a combination of individual biology, life experiences and how we think about what's going on in our life each day. My approach begins with listening and developing a non-judgmental understanding of what brings you to therapy at this time in your life. We then work together, clarifying your goals, identifying both obstacles hindering you from the life you long for and some changes you can begin to make in order to achieve your goals and live your life to the fullest.
Helping people to reduce the suffering in their lives, by providing treatment that works is the goal of therapy. Sometimes that change happens in just a few sessions, sometimes it takes longer. It may involve learning new ways of responding to what's going on around you, or possibly seeing things from another perspective. It may be someone really listening, so you don't feel alone in a difficult time. While no one can make a promise that therapy will work for everyone, I work with each person help them create lasting change.