My general counseling approach is holistic, client-centered and strengths-based. This means I believe in engaging the whole person - mind, body and spirit - for optimal healing and growth. It also means that the path for change is determined by the unique personality, history, situation and strengths of each individual.
Whatever your goals for change might be, it is my job to be your advocate and work with you in accomplishing those goals. Collaboratively, we will develop strategies to best meet with success given your unique strengths and makeup. Being an integrative therapist, my counseling style incorporates a blend of psychotherapeutic philosophies and tools to help you accomplish your goals. Listed below are the approaches that most influence my work. One or more of these approaches, at any time, may resonate best with a particular individual’s personality and goals for change or healing.
person-centered psychotherapy (also called humanistic psychotherapy) - This approach stresses the importance of drawing out the innate wisdom and ability of the individual to actualize their own experience and growth. (The individual has the answers - not the therapist.)
psychodynamic theory - By bringing the unconscious into conscious awareness, one gains the insight necessary for change.
cognitive-behavioral therapy - The path to change is identifying negative/faulty thoughts and beliefs and changing them to positive, functional beliefs in order to activate change. New belief/thought leads to new action. New action then reinforces new belief.
transpersonal psychology - Emphasizing the transcendent or spiritual aspects of a person’s experience, this approach stresses the importance of connection with oneself, spirit, others and the world.
mind-body psychotherapy - This approach emphasizes body awareness and centeredness in conjunction with intellectual awareness and insight. Whole healing takes place through activity of both the left and right sides of the brain. Also involves activities such as imagery, expressive art, play and movement.
mindfulness - Through the practice of nonjudgmental awareness, one develops self-acceptance, emotion regulation and an increased sense of wholeness in connection with oneself and the world. Originating from Buddhist philosophy, this is a body-centered practice that includes meditation.
energy psychology - By using techniques derived from Chinese acupuncture, one can move “stuck” energy within the body to restore or effect increased health and state of mind.
solution-focused therapy - This approach focuses on the individual’s goals for healing or change (the solution versus the problem) and helps acknowledge and build on the individual’s strengths.
