Scott Menasco, Ph.D. LMFT # 111342

A large portion of the trauma I see with clients is subtle. Certain ways of relating have been passed down through our families leaving parts of us feeling isolated or threatened. When this is repetitive in nature we learn to associate certain feelings and experiences with a sense of threat. As we grow into our adult relationships, this sense of threat is activated. I help individuals learn to relate to these parts of themselves in ways that foster healing, growth, and competency.

Many of us have highly developed inner-critics. This can show up as perfectionism, anxiety, depressive symptoms. When we are highly critical of ourselves this causes tremendous conflict internally. Over time, this conflict takes a toll on our self-esteem. I regularly see my clients self-esteem grow in leaps and bounds as they learn that their feelings have intrinsic value. Instead of being at war with themselves inside, they begin to understand feelings as signposts and allies.

Many of us have highly developed inner-critics. This can show up as perfectionism, anxiety, depressive symptoms. When we are highly critical of ourselves this causes tremendous conflict internally. Over time, this conflict takes a toll on our self-esteem. I regularly see my clients self-esteem grow in leaps and bounds as they learn that their feelings have intrinsic value. Instead of being at war with themselves inside, they begin to understand feelings as signposts and allies.

Many of us have highly developed inner-critics. This can show up as perfectionism, anxiety, depressive symptoms. When we are highly critical of ourselves this causes tremendous conflict internally. Over time, this conflict takes a toll on our self-esteem. I regularly see my clients self-esteem grow in leaps and bounds as they learn that their feelings have intrinsic value. Instead of being at war with themselves inside, they begin to understand feelings as signposts and allies.

What codependency means is that I have learned ways of disconnecting from my genuine experience in order to try to maintain some stability in my relationships. Often we learn this strategy early on in our lives. While it may have served us at some point, over time actually leads to dissatisfaction and conflict. I help clients understand these patterns and learn practical skills in relationships. We also look at how these patterns formed in reaction to circumstances that out of our control.