My Approach to Helping
My approach to helping people is first trying to really get to know someone and understand what may not be working for them in their lives. We have all been there where sometimes we just don't know what is going on, all we know is that something is not in sync with what we want it to be. I am a pretty down to earth person who is going to be honest and genuine during our time together and help you move towards changes you want. I love humor so prepare for us to have a few laughs during our sessions while we work together.
More Info About My Practice
I have been a therapist for about 10 years and during that time I have accumulated varied experiences on what brings people to treatment. My specialties include thought disorders such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. In this realm, I work with people and their families to understand symptoms. For the person experiencing the symptoms, we try to tease out where the grain of truth lies in their beliefs and where do symptoms of psychosis pop up, work on daily living skills such as showering, budgeting, problem-solving, and socializing etc. For the family, I try to help them understand the changes that come with motivation or interacting when symptoms appear as well as give voice to the struggle of being a caregiver and a parent with no downtime.
I also have lots of experience working with Mood disorders such as Bipolar disorder, Anxiety, and Depression. In your sessions, we will be looking at how you experience each episode and try to determine triggers, warning signs, and what to do when you notice either. My goal is always to help someone achieve a place where they can recognize the signs and gain as much control over symptoms as they can and help them develop a plan for when they do need more help. I think it's important for people to have a voice in what they want the plan to be when they need more support. My practice also offers psychoeducation and support groups surrounding mood symptoms. Currently, we are looking for individuals who would like to learn more skills in how to manage their anxiety.
What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist
I love building therapeutic relationships that are meaningful for people where we can do the hard work but realize that we are in it together. I also love putting together all the pieces of the puzzle and helping people look at the "big picture" to see how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors all work together to create an outcome (some of which we like and some we don't).
What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process
It can definitely be difficult to open up to a stranger about things we ourselves maybe not like or struggle to accept. I understand the power of verbalizing something can make it feel real. What I can assure you of is although I may gently challenge and push you, we will take things at your pace and try to understand what the fear is in confronting situations or emotions. I do try to create a non-judgmental environment in my sessions.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.