Campbell Owen (He / Him)

Depression comes in many forms. For some, it can mean an inability to focus or begin tasks, for some it can mean a lack of energy, and for others it can include thoughts of harm. I believe it's important that clients be able to recognize the signs and have a plan of action in the event they experience these symptoms.

As an LMFT-A, I have specialized training to work with families. Part of this includes inviting the whole family into session when appropriate. I believe it's important to hear from each member of the family because the best results are often found when the family comes together as a team. I enjoy working with entire families even if a child is the focus of our work for several reasons. The parents often help create consistency and provide extra assistance when the child needs it.

I believe that each client's story is unique and valued. I seek to understand my client's story, values, and beliefs so that I can best work with them to achieve their desired goals. Narrative therapy involves establishing a "preferred outcome". It also includes helpful interventions such as "re-membering" your life which means reevaluating your support system. This usually means discussing your "chosen family" and how each person supports you.

Instead of placing blame and what does not work to alleviate one's troubles, I focus on client's strengths and how we can work together to address the problem. I often use scaling questions like "rate your anxiety from 1-10" or "Rate your life satisfaction from 0-10". These types of questions help us identify a goal and track progress towards it.

Men's issues is an important area for me because many men bear the weight of their problems in isolation. I often work on re-defining masculinity and helping my clients feel like the man they want to be. Many men tell me they wondered for years sometimes even decades if how they felt was "normal". I also enjoy working with clients battling pornography addiction because it is a widespread issue with few clinicians adept in handling it.

I don't believe that depression is a condition that always requires medication nor is it always a lifelong problem. My clients and I start with small, incremental steps that eventually grow into larger, more long term changes. I like to collaborate with my clients to discover unique coping skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. One of the best parts of my job is seeing clients rediscover their joy for life.

Through my work with trauma I have learned that self esteem is an important aspect of our overall wellbeing that can improve a wide array of symptoms. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or growing after trauma, self-esteem plays a part in the healing.