INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
“The truth brings with it so much more freedom and vision than either ignorance or a ‘varnished’ view of reality does…energy we don’t use on self-protection can be spent on sensitivity, openness, and creativity.” Robert Wicks
I see women, men, and adolescents in individual therapy. In your first session, we will talk about what has led you to seek treatment and what you hope to gain from the experience. I believe that trust and respect are earned; I am committed to building a warm, safe, compassionate therapy relationship so that you are able to explore with me the truth of your life, your thoughts and emotions, and your relationships.
COUPLES THERAPY
“Real relationship does not come without risk or vulnerability.” Robert Wicks
Many couples who come for therapy are in such distress that basic trust, respect, and emotional safety have been absent for months, if not years. When I work with a couple, I maintain respect for each partner’s subjective reality and help the couple to build the safety to talk and listen with openness. I believe that, when defenses come down in an atmosphere of safety, new possibilities for intimacy and growth follow. Sometimes, only one partner wants to engage in treatment; if this is your situation, I suggest that you engage in individual treatment in order to make personal changes that are likely to impact your relationship as a whole.
GROUPS
“The moment of awareness is the moment of choice.” M. B. Pennington
A group therapy experience can be beneficial on so many levels. In a group, you will be reminded that others struggle as you do. You also will have the opportunity to examine your relational patterns while they are occurring within a safe and therapeutic environment; at its best, a group acts as a social microcosm in which members can receive helpful feedback about how they come across to others and can take risks to relate in new ways. I offer women’s groups and parenting groups.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Couples Communication: A presentation on this topic can include instruction on the process of active listening (reflection, validation, and empathy); identification of commonly used attack-defend-escape strategies and their impact on relationships; description of communication patterns that enhance intimacy.
Adolescents and Self-Mutilation: A presentation on this topic can be helpful for school faculty/staff, youth ministry staff, or concerned parents who wish to learn more. I include common misperceptions about “cutting,” a framework for understanding why an adolescent may resort to self-mutilation, an overview of what may need to happen in the healing process, and possible warning signs.