My practice and the way that I work with clients is based on several key guiding principles and beliefs:
The key to your health and healing lies within you. I believe that you are the single best expert on yourself and what you need at any given time. My therapeutic style is client-centered, which means I am there to facilitate, witness, and support your personal process. I function as a guide and mirror, often providing feedback and suggestions, but ultimately I trust your process and your intuition about what is best for you wholeheartedly. I do not know you better than you know yourself.
Healing happens in relationship. In my personal experience, genuine connection is inherently healing. In our fast paced, technologically-advanced world, authentic and compassionate connection with another human being can be difficult to come by. I believe that the therapeutic relationship formed between client and therapist is sacred and should be built upon honesty and trust. It is my goal to show up fully and authentically with my clients as a person first, and as a therapist second.
We are each on our own unique soul path. As your therapist, I will not judge your life experience and choices. I believe that we are each on our own unique journey, and just as there is no one “right” way to be human, there is no one “right” way to be in life. I am there, as a fellow human being who is also on my own path, to be present with you and whatever concerns you bring into the therapeutic space. |
There is a brilliant sanity in all "dysfunction." I am just as concerned about exploring and honoring what is working in your life as I am about looking into what is not working for you. Much of what traditional psychology calls "pathology" are actually coping mechanisms we learned to order to survive imperfect, and sometimes even dangerous, circumstances. So behaviors that now, out of their original context, appear dysfunctional were actually brilliant acts of sanity that protected us and kept us alive. I strive to honor your various coping skills, even as we explore new ways of being that are more in alignment with your needs in the present moment.
Healing happens in the here-and-now. One of the gifts we can give to ourselves and to others is the gift of full presence. More and more research is pointing to the therapeutic value of mindfulness practices in helping to heal a variety of mental health issues. My therapeutic approach is heavily influenced by mindfulness, which I incorporate into sessions in a variety of ways--including teaching mindfulness techniques to interested clients.