Services Provided

I work with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relationship issues. This may include teaming with other professionals (school, treatment staff, county, etc.) and  providing education and community support. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, I offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of my clients individual and family needs. 

I adopt the Adlerian philosophy to techniques below. Adler takes a positive view of human nature as goal-oriented, in control of your destiny, and striving for social connectedness. I will identify, explore, and challenge current negative beliefs and functioning. I will gather overall individual and family history and view behavior patterns to help set new, socially satisfying, and attainable goals. These could relate to any realm of life. I may also assign homework, set up contracts, and make suggestions on how you and/or your family can reach new goals.

Therapy techniques: (These often overlap)
Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) - A type of "talking and doing" therapy focusing on what is possible and what you want to achieve versus focusing on the problems and what made you seek help. I help you and/or your family envision your preferred future and then focus on any moves towards this, whether big or small. You will be asked various exploratory questions about your story/history, strengths, and resources, and exceptions to the problem. Homework and tasks are sometimes given and progress is followed up on in each session--I call this "leapfrogging." This gives you and/or your family members concrete skills to apply to relationships and situations in daily life.The process of change is often referenced to increase awareness of incremental steps to change and having more control towards a preferred future. It is most successful to practice when the problem is not present or less severe. Anything that directly or indirectly relates to the problem can be cultivated and this is where we get creative! 

Family Systems Therapy: Viewing problems within the family as the result not of particular members' behaviors, but of the family's group dynamic. The family is seen as a complex system having its own language, roles, rules, beliefs, needs and patterns. I help family members understand their role in that system, and how that experience has shaped current functioning. Blame is not put on one person, but people can have different responsibilities. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Our thoughts and feelings play a fundamental role in our behavior. This technique helps to identify and understand thoughts, feelings, and emotions that connect to behaviors. While we can't control everything around us, we can take control of how we interpret and deal with things in our environment. CBT connects with Mindfulness.....

Mindfulness - Our thoughts and judgements have powerful effect on how we feel and what we do. Allowing a broader perspective of why and what makes us think certain ways helps control our automatic thoughts. Mindfulness helps us pay attention, non-judgmentally, to the present moment; helping us live in the moment and experience emotions and senses fully, yet with perspective. By practicing mindfulness, we become aware that we are hooked, step back, and loosen from the old pattern of thoughts. This gives a chance to look at our first reaction and begin constructing new patterns.  

Art Therapy:This is a technique that uses the creative process to enhance well being and improve the mental health of clients. Art therapy can be used on children and adults to treat a wide range of emotional issues, including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, family and relationship problems, abuse and domestic violence, and trauma and loss. As you paint, draw, cut, sculpt, and construct, we can view and interpret your works of art to gain personal insight, improve judgment, cope with stress, and work through traumatic experiences. For for extensive projects, I can give you recommendations for pottery, music, acting, and other modalities of art. 

Play Therapy: Generally for children ages 3 to 12 (but some older "kids" love this too!), play therapy is technique that relies on play to help communicate. Because children develop cognitive skills (views, experiences, understanding of the world) before language skills, play is an effective way for them to express and for adults to understand. During a semi-structured play activity, I will either observe or engage with a child playing with certain figures or objects in my indoor sand tray or other toys (such as playhouses, trains, dolls, and puppets) to understand their behavior, thoughts and perceptions.