Terry Pace (he)

I have been studying grief and loss for over 40 years. I have seen many diverse patients with grief and life transition issues as an outpatient counselor. I have taught extensively on grief at the graduate level. I have worked in hospitals and helped patients facing life changing decisions as well as coping with their own or a loved one's death. Grief is a way of living anew, it is not an event or time limited, but it changes and ebbs and flows within the whole of our lives.

I have been working with folks with chronic illness and pain since 1986. I have a sub specialty in stress and stress physiology and how broader life issues interact with our health. I do not divide human beings into biological, psychological, social, cultural or spiritual pieces, but rather seek to understand the whole of life and how different types of changes or interventions may improve health or improve the capacity to cope with health with greater peace. I am also a chronic pain patient.

I was first drawn to psychology out of the experience of and concern for others with depression. My doctoral dissertation research was on how Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy could improve depression through changing the way we perceive the world. My approach is holistic and integrative of the unique Biological, Psychological, Social, Cultural and Spiritual issues for each patient. CBT, ACT, person-centered, narrative, mindfulness , existential and other therapies are all important.

I am at core an integrative therapist. I seek to understand my patients in a holistic and interactive framework that includes biological, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual issues. I have been studying, reading, discussing, teaching and practicing within this integrative framework for over 40 years. This partly comes from having a strong background in medical illnesses and how they interact with psychological and social factors.

A sense of coherence, purpose and meaning is essential to human well-being. These broader and deeper level beliefs and commitments impact everything we are and the lifestyle we live or seek to live. I have a background grounded in family and friendships as well as in nature, religion, philosophy, poetry, literature and music appreciation that help me explore issues of fundamental values and meaning that serve as foundations for our lives.

My first training as early as 1980 was as a person-centered therapist, shortly followed by training in CBT. My doctoral dissertation was on CBT and I have practiced CBT within an integrative bio-psycho-social framework for the past 35 years. Understanding, accepting and changing specific thoughts and deeper beliefs can be an effective approach to treating many mental health or life adjustment concerns. However, all my therapy work is individualized, collaborative and integrative.