We can all benefit from an outside perspective to help us understand ourselves and live up to our potential. We may have blocks, blind spots, and self-destructive patterns that we struggle to move past. We may have unproductive ways of coping with stress or loneliness. We may lack a sense of identity. We may look to relationships or individual accomplishments for a sense of validation or value, never quite feeling that we are “good enough” as we are. We may tend to avoid conflict or self-destructively seek out conflict. In situations like these, I help my clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their nature, collaborating on ways to live a more fulfilling, authentic life.
I work from an “insight-oriented” or “depth” perspective, listening to both what is said and what is not said, so clients have the experience of being truly understood. I invite my clients to talk about anything on their mind: thoughts, feelings, life challenges, internal conflicts, dreams and fantasies. From here, you can gain a clearer and deeper understanding of who you are and how you can be more effective in your life.
It is my belief that healing comes from having an honest and compassionate relationship with our own self. Therapy is a way of contacting this internal world and making sense of the thoughts, feelings, and conflicts that are there. If we are stuck in specific emotions–like sadness, for example–it is typically because we are disconnected from other emotions, such as anger. We often grew up in environments where certain emotions were not tolerated, so we adapted by cutting ourselves off from feeling.
Successful therapy begins with a trusting relationship. I provide space to work through the challenges we all face as human beings. Finding the right therapist is an important task. It is crucial that you feel seen, understood, supported, and challenged. If you feel that we would work well together, or if you have any questions, give me a call!
Common problems that I offer assistance with are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-esteem and shame
- Identifying and managing emotions
- Relationship and intimacy issues (I see individuals and couples)
- Self-defeating patterns in work and life
- Creative blocks and perfectionism
- Grief
- Identity issues
- Life path and career issues