My hope for every client is to find healing and positive change, and to also leave treatment with the skills and mindset to orchestrate a life full of meaning. Part of the art of therapy is tailoring treatment to fit each unique client. The first thing I do is gather information and listen well to be sure I understand what would be helpful. Sometimes the best approach for clients is to provide the elements of a therapeutic relationship but otherwise get out of their way to allow them to gain insight without being interrupted too much! Sometimes the most important part of therapy can be grieving well for many kinds of losses. When clients present with habits or thinking patterns that are clearly working behind the scenes to sabotage their goals, they are often best served by getting to the root of the problems through a more interactive process. When trauma is the main concern I use a standardized protocol that has been proven through research to be one of the most effective treatments (PE).
My approach to therapy is influenced by client-centered, behavioral, and cognitive behavioral theories, and I draw heavily from evidence-based treatments such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). When treating families, I rely on Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. In couples therapy I use many of the principles taught by Gottman. One example is that introducing the right things into a relationship is even more important than focusing on what’s wrong in the relationship.