Services
- Individual
- Couples
About My Clients
I serve a wide variety of couples and individual adult clients. I have experience working with clients of diverse faiths, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and presenting issues. I work particularly well with clients who are curious about themselves, who are willing to grow, and who are willing topersevere in the sometimes difficult work of self-discovery and change. I have particular experience working with substance misuse, non-suicidal self-injury, and a variety of couples difficulties.
My Background and Approach
When working with individual adult clients, I favor an existential-humanistic approach--fancy jargon for (1) understanding how my clients live in and experience their world, and (2) using foundational aspects of existence like mortality, anxiety/choice, isolation, and meaning as a substrate for understanding a client's more granular presenting issues. When working with the majority of couples, I use an eclectic approach that incorporates insights from John Gottman's work, Bowenian Family Systems Theory, and Structural Family Therapy. Again, don't be put off by big names. Basically, I care about (1) how well are people in relationships turning toward and attuning to each other, (2) how well are they communicating, (3) what sort of emotional patterns are present within relationship systems, and (4) whether problematic interactions within relationships are flowing from issues within the relationships structure.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I firmly believe that the ultimate purpose of therapy is to facilitate change in clients' lives. I also firmly believe that virtually anyone can benefit from therapy if they are willing to put in the work. These beliefs do influence my style of relating with clients, which has been described as "confrontational" and "challenging." Therapeutic confrontation is never anger or aggression. It is simply reflecting something about the client back to the client to examine--even if that something causes discomfort. Inconsistencies between words and behaviors, repeated patterns of behavior or communication that consistently lead to undesired outcomes, lack of congruence between what a client says and how they are carrying themselves emotionally...all these are common sources of confrontation. I firmly believe that confrontation, when performed well--i.e., with sensitivity and respect--can be a powerful engine for self-discovery and, ultimately, change.