Counseling Process
Assessments
The process by which we determine what is distressing you. The assessment gives me a picture of what your life looks like now and what you are experiencing that you find bothersome. This can help you better understand your experience and provide a focus for counseling. This assessment may include a formal mental health or substance misuse diagnosis or an identification of a general area of concern in your life.
Clinical Counseling
This phase may be short term or longer term, depending on your wants and needs. Counseling is a cooperative effort. We may focus on helping you feel free from the past, learning new skills to better manage the present, or preparing for the future. I may suggest new behaviors to try between sessions.
Collaboration
Counseling can involve just you and me. If appropriate, we may agree to bring others into the counseling process such as family members or other professionals. In most cases, it is up to you who will be involved.
My Approach
I believe strongly in the power of a trusting, invested relationship to bring about change. Humor is a common element of my counseling style along with a direct and interactive approach.
I rely on a Person-Centered framework in counseling. This approach is based on the reality that each person is unique in their personhood and experience. It also holds you have the right and ability to own your change. I also integrate other theoretical frameworks depending on the presenting problem, preferences of my clients, and reasons for counseling. These theories include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Solution Focused Therapy. I also have specialized training in Deep Brain Reorientation, a form of trauma processing which helps people's body release held shock stemming from past traumas. This treatment is different from traditional talk therapy and very useful for treating even severe and chronic forms of trauma.
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