Individual Therapy

Most people begin therapy with some trepidation. “Will she understand me?” “How will I know if she’s the right therapist for me?” It takes a while to get to know each other and to feel comfortable talking. It’s part of my job to create an atmosphere in which all thoughts and feelings can be expressed.

There’s no “one size fits all” approach. Some people need an interactive therapist, while others need to be listened to for a while. In addition to exploring and understanding the specific problem or issue that brings someone to treatment, I adjust my style to foster the growth of an effective therapeutic partnership.

Another principle that informs my work is the idea that the therapeutic relationship is a partnership. While it is fundamentally a professional relationship, it can also serve as a model for other relationships and allow for the exploration of maladaptive patterns and the development of new ways of relating. While we can’t change difficult or painful situations from the past, we can work together to loosen the grip of those memories and how they operate in the present. Understanding what’s keeping you stuck in self-defeating patterns clears the way to find new approaches to your present difficulties, as well as those that may arise in the future.