FAQ
Here are some answers to questions you may have
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a joint exploration into the nature of how we get stuck, how we stay stuck and how we can change. It is a dynamic process that takes place in a relationship with an empathic therapist and targets the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that present obstacles while enhancing those that promote flexibility, emotional intelligence and change.
How do I get started?
I invite you to use your initial sessions to develop an impression of me and the connection we share. Pay attention to your comfort level, ask questions about your concerns, and take the time to insure that you feel aligned, accepted and valued as you are.
Why Psychotherapy?
Many people try therapy when they have exhausted every possible strategy for change. Others try when they experience a specific loss, concern or life transition. If you feel stuck, distressed or unhappy, therapy can offer a fresh approach to exploring experience and generating change.
How do people change?
I view change as a subtle, almost elusive, shift in perception that emerges from a willingness to let go of resistance and be present with the immediacy of experience. Staying present, without self-judgment, criticism or comparison, not only challenges the “knee-jerk” response between trigger and reaction, but also ventilates the atmosphere and opens the space for seeing yourself as whole, valuable and capable of transformation.
What are the benefits of Psychotherapy?
Besides symptom relief, therapy can improve social, occupational and personal functioning, boost emotional intelligence, enhance communication and conflict resolution skills and significantly contribute to personal growth and well-being. More importantly, therapy can facilitate a deeper structural change in attitude, feeling states, and quality of life.
What happens in individual therapy?
I work by helping you identify, explore and clarify the “HOW” of what you do, think, say and feel. By slowing down your ordinary pace and looking more closely at the places you feel stuck, we can begin to identify obstacles, enhance resiliency, build skills and resources and create more effective life choices.
Why is the connection with a therapist important?
The therapeutic relationship is one that provides a secure, nonjudgmental, affirming base from which to explore thoughts, deep emotions, actions and meaning. In this context, you come trust your innate ability to let go of limiting beliefs and realize your full potential.
What happens in family and couples therapy?
My goal is to help couples and families identify and change the negative patterns that create distress in their relationships. By helping each person effectively express their needs and wants in a language that others can understand, I strive to facilitate closer bonds and help family members experience each other as a source of security, protection, comfort and well-being.
How do I know if a therapist is right for me?
Research consistently shows that the relationship, rather than a specific approach, is the linchpin in the change process. Therefore finding someone with whom you feel valued, accepted and heard is the first step toward achieving an effective outcome.
Because psychotherapy is a multifaceted field, many people feel fuzzy about the methods, goals, and individual areas of specialization. To help you feel more at ease, I am happy to answer questions about my education, training, and experience as well as my theoretical orientation and clinical approach.
What is group therapy all about?
Therapeutic group sessions integrate evidence-based principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, and Sound-Voice-Music Healing in structured format. Each weekly session is designed to integrate experiential practice with cognitive understanding in a way that gets to the core of distress and opens the space for change.