Individual Therapy
I work one-on-one with adults of every age. The target of individual therapy is both internal and external. Human suffering often stems from how we feel, what we believe, and how we treat ourselves. This internal dynamic in turn impacts how we engage interpersonally with others and our surroundings. Individual therapy focuses on easing inner conflict and addressing problematic ways of interacting with people and the complexities of life. The objective of individual work is to experience a higher quality of life by achieving greater harmony within oneself, more satisfying interactions with others, and a better balance in life.
Couples Therapy
Everyone wants to be loved, valued, and belong, yet frequently struggles in making, sustaining or rebuilding connection with people who are important. Crises, irresolvable differences, accusations and assumptions, the stress of daily life, and harmful self-soothing strategies also drive wedges between couples. A primary goal when working with a couple is to help each partner convey their feelings, concerns, and complaints about the relationship in such a way that the other hears it without getting defensive, repeating the same old fight, or withdrawing somehow. Such vulnerability and mutual empathy creates intimacy. I help couples to utilize their emotions, develop compassion for self and empathy for the other, recognize and express their needs and desires, manage conflict, enhance their friendship, and create shared meaning and purpose. As a trained facilitator for Prepare/Enrich, I sometimes I use this online assessment tool to identify a couple’s strengths and growth areas. When working with couples, I draw heavily on my training in the work of couple therapists, Drs. John and Julie Gottman, Dr. Daniel Wile, and Milan and Kay Yerkovich.
Group Therapy
I offer long and short term groups for women. The groups are a safe and inspiring social microcosm for interpersonal learning. Some factors that contribute to change in group members are the infusion of hope, heightened self awareness, realization of the shared human experience, acquisition of social skills and techniques, giving to and receiving from others, and corrective emotional experiences. Groups can be viewed as a relational incubator and thus a stepping stone to the “real” world. Participants gain clarity on how they engage socially and experiment with new ways of relating, which carries over into their interpersonal behavior outside the group. Group participation can be adjunct to other therapeutic modalities (e.g., individual or couple therapy); I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with others invested in your growth journey.