Individual Therapy
I'm an experiential therapist. That means we won't be just talking about your problems. Talking about your life is important but in my experience it isn't enough to create lasting change. Talking is at the level of our conscious mind; the beliefs and patterns keeping us stuck are just below our awareness. We'll be using techniques that allow you to experience and study the roots of your problems. Once we're clear on the self-defeating beliefs you picked up earlier in your life, we'll use methods based on neuroscience research to shift the belief patterns keeping you stuck. The process of self-discovery is sometimes surprising but it's never some deep, dark, scary thing. It's amazing to realize that the very feelings and beliefs you've been avoiding and hating inside of you -- when studied in a compassionate, mindful way -- turn out to be the keys to your freedom. Here are some basic principles:
Clear Focus Without a specific issue to work on, therapy tends to meander from one problem to the next. By staying with a clear focus over time, we can track changes in our work together and in your life. For me, the change process isn't complete until you're able to see concrete results -- a change in your behavior, a change in how you feel about yourself or getting clearer on what you really want. Collaboration I was a jazz improvisor before I became a therapist. For me, therapy is a collaborative, creative process. I'm not the expert telling you what's wrong with you and how to fix it. I offer suggestions and guidance to help you find your own inner wisdom and direction instead of giving you theories or opinions about what might be happening inside you. Transparency In our sessions, I'll let you know if I'm feeling disconnected from our process or it seems we're going off on a tangent. I may ask you to pause so I can make sure I'm really with you and understanding what you're trying to express. I'll also actively encourage you to tell me if something I say or suggest doesn't connect for you. You don't have to know why -- just that somehow it feels off. |