Individual Therapy: Talking with someone who cares…
You may be thinking, “I’m not sure about individual therapy.” Well, have you ever sat down and talked about your problems with a dear friend? You had her undivided attention, she was on your side, and she encouraged you.
Being in individual therapy one-on-one with a therapist is a lot like that, but there are things a therapist can do that your friend can’t. Some people say that talking to a therapist is better than talking to a friend as therapists don’t judge or talk about your information with anyone else.
Sometimes I will be an objective listener and tell you other ways you could view your thoughts and feelings and sometimes I will sit with you and your feelings, being a witness to your joy and pain.
As a therapist I have been trained in specialized skills to help people who are suffering with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and trauma. Listening to you is a big part of helping you, and so is helping you to see some things in a different way- a way that may decrease your pain and suffering.
Individual Therapy is not a passive process, change takes action and courage.
Helping you learn new skills that may ease your suffering is another part of what I do. I have a lot of tools in my tool belt that may help you: cognitive behavioral therapy, ego state therapy, Gotttman relationship therapy, EMDR, breath work, guided visualizations, self-compassion, meditation, tapping, and body work are just a few. Together we will learn which tools will help you the best.
Our therapy will be a partnership, there is no one who knows you better than you know yourself. Together we can explore how to get to where you want to be and be your most authentic self. Many of us were never taught how to love ourselves just as we are. We were not taught how to have compassion for ourselves. This may be the hardest lesson to learn, but it is the key to a life worth living. It can be a long process, but it is worth learning.
There is no quick fix, no magic pill, I don’t have a magic wand. People who benefit the most from therapy are those who are motivated to continue the work outside of the therapy hour.
Being good to yourself is not selfish, being kind to yourself is not a weakness, and taking care of yourself is a worthwhile investment.
I have 30 years of experience helping people. It gives me joy to see people feeling better. Schedule an appointment for a free 15 minute consultation to see if I am the right psychotherapist for you.