“How does the therapist work with clients?”
This is an essential question to ask when choosing a psychologist. My answer: I work in the same manner as I am writing now—directly and clearly, without vagueness or mystery.
I believe my clients have a right to know what I think and why I think it. Each person's unique difficulties—whether it be depression, anxiety, relationship problems, career problems, sexual issues, trauma, or the many other dilemmas people struggle with—require somewhat different approaches. Nevertheless, I believe that all of us possess the resources for psychological growth. I see myself as a catalyst to foster that positive growth.
My years of training have provided me with various skills and resourceful approaches to conduct and guide the psychotherapeutic process. These skills include the use of constructive questions to further your self-awareness; the understanding of many self-destructive or counterproductive patterns (often unconscious) that people fall into; and knowing when and how to push my clients, and when to be more gentle. Sometimes I am wrong, but I always strive to operate from an informed position.
My approach is based on a collaborative model of treatment. I supply the above-mentioned skills; however, my clients know about themselves—their past and present experiences, and their thoughts and feelings. There are times of course, when there are things they do not know; we then combine our respective abilities and perspectives to figure it out together. Moreover, my clients possess their own capacities for insight. I see it as my job to collaborate with and cultivate those abilities, as well as to help my clients develop new psychological capabilities.
Learn about my education and training.
Find out about my approach to couples counseling.
Our goal in therapy
To gain self-awareness and continue to make changes on your own so you do not have to continually depend on a therapist. As the ancient but useful proverb says:
