Therapy is most definitely not one size fits all. Much of how it can help depends on your willingness to show up…both literally and figuratively! Talk therapy is helpful in helping to develop insight into the origin, development and function of all the things you seek help for. Therapy can help you understand yourself better and potentially expand your perspective of the world around you and of other people. Once that insight is there, it’s time to build a bridge to actual change “in real life”. This usually requires willingness and acceptance of allowing yourself to feel discomfort in real world situations. When we have done things the same way over and over again for many years, it takes time, trial and error, regressing and messing up for a new way to exist in the world to take hold.

The first couple of sessions I ask a lot of concrete questions to get to know you and your history. After that, I put any agenda aside and allow you to lead me where it’s important for you to go. You can come with a prepared list of topics or you can just freely associate with whatever is top of mind. I will follow where you go with questions, feedback, sometimes recommendations but I won’t tell you what to do. I am not here to fix you or change you because I don’t believe anyone is broken. I am here to expand your experience of the world, to strengthen who you are already and hopefully help you cope, accept the difficulties of life.

Yes! With the following exceptions: If you’re in danger of harming yourself or someone else If there is suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable individuals or dependents such as children, elderly or anyone protected under similar laws.

I will never push or force anyone to take medication. Medication can definitely be helpful in regulating any organic underlying cause for significant depression and anxiety. However, medication will not make you happy, it will not fix your problems. What medication can offer is to stabilize the biology so that you feel better equipped and open to psychotherapy and behavior change.

That is completely and totally up to you! Some people arrive in therapy in an acute state of crisis and once that crisis is resolved they choose to move on. For others, therapy is more explorative and supportive. Intended not for crisis situations per se but to have a person to speak to on a regular basis, to expand their understanding of themselves and others. This is your personal journey and you decide when it starts and when it ends.

You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about generally. I will say though that much of my approach is significantly helped by understanding how you started out in the world and how those beginnings set the stage for the way you see yourself, others and how you perceive your environment. I am always open to explore resistance to talking about sensitive topics and giving you the space and time to get there when you’re ready.

My approach to therapy is definitely more psychodynamic in nature, which basically means that I do care about your relationship with those that raised you, your peers, siblings, significant and even seemingly insignificant experiences in childhood. My natural way of processing what you say is through the lens of attachment theory, existential theory and I do apply some of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I may sometimes recommend a relevant book or a new tool to practice but it will never be something I am a stickler for using and it’s always your choice whether or not I give those recommendations at all.