My Approach to Helping
Dr. Nightingale has been practicing for over 30 years. You may listen to her counseling philosophy on SoundCloud.com. She uses a Brief Therapy model to help clients with depression, anxiety and relationship concerns. She is one of the few therapists licensed both as a Psychologist (PhD level) and as a Marriage, Family, Child Therapist (Masters level). Her self-help books are available on Amazon. She is the past-director of psychiatric hospital and chemical dependency programs. You may read her blog articles here on many therapy issues. Her conference lectures focus on relationship communication and parenting skills. She's known for her humor, compassion and dedication to helping clients attain practical solutions in a supportive environment. She uses homework assignments to facilitate progress between therapy sessions for clients who want to get the most out of their treatment. To remain enthusiastic in her field and to bring clients the most up-to-date treatment methods, she invests over 200 hours annually in continuing education and specialized training. Her self help books can be found on Amazon.
It takes courage to start therapy and begin the changes that will lead to a better life. Dr. Nightingale respects how difficult the first few steps can be. Searching the internet and reading these bios is a good start. The next step is to call and ask any questions you may have, and then schedule an appointment. Therapy can provide practical, straightforward tools that you may then use to make positive changes. You deserve the support of a caring and experienced professional as you face the things you'd like to improve about your life. If you feel stuck, please reach out to a licensed therapist. You deserve a new start.
More Info About My Practice
You may listen to Dr. Nightingale's simple relaxation techniques for anxiety on Sound Cloud. Please call (no texts or emails) her office if you have any questions about therapy for yourself or your family. Please call if you have questions about EMDR or Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, in partnership with Journey Clinical. Her book, "It's a Bedroom not a Boardroom," a communication book for ambitious couples, is also available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
Most of us were raised with poor models for healthy communication. We heard, "What will everyone think?" "You made me mad." "I wouldn't have done that if you hadn't _____." We're taught as children that we're responsible for how other people feel and act. We also hear these blaming words in our movies and TV shows. But these ideas are not true. We're responsible to develop coping skills for our own feelings and we're responsible to act in ways that are congruent with our own integrity (being true to our own values). When we have compassion for ourselves we can then have compassion for a partner who might have taken something we said or did personally.
When I see a couple for the first time in therapy one or both are usually concerned with whose "side" I'm going to take. I see problems in relationships as residing in-between two people, not that one or the other is wrong or is to blame. Therapy is about growing toward something new, not tearing anyone down or blaming.
In my book, "It's a Bedroom not a Boardroom" I've written about the homework assignments I encourage couples to practice between sessions. Learning new ways to say what you want doesn't mean you're weak or flawed. It means you're human and willing to grow. Serenity and peace at home takes conscious work, and it's for the courageous.
