My Approach

A lot of psychologists just work on helping you better manage the difficulties that you are experiencing, which can be vital at times. Management approaches can often focus on developing coping strategies and problem solving, and sometimes on creating a space to share what you are experiencing in life. In some instances this approach is exactly what is needed. However, as useful and important as this approach can be, an over reliance on it can be detrimental, as you become stuck in a cycle of managing difficulties rather than trying to resolve what lies beneath them.

My aim is to find the pace and approach that works best for you to work towards immediate symptom relief and addressing the root causes of your psychological pain. The ultimate goal is to help you live a more fulfilling life in which you can face the difficulties life throws at you. If you are looking for someone to only help you manage your difficulties and not look beyond this, then I am not the person for you.

So what therapy look like?

When we meet for the first appointment, I will ask you what you are hoping to get out of therapy and what has prompted you to seek services at present time. Early in the session we may also discuss your past history of therapy and any difficulties you might be having with thoughts of self-harm or suicide. I will listen to and together with you thoroughly try to understand the problem-areas of your life. My role is to listen carefully and understand your situation fully — your priorities and the changes you envision. As you tell me your story I will not only listen to what you are saying but also to what you are not saying, or saying indirectly; I will look at what is going on with your feelings, anxiety, and how you are relating to me and to yourself.

As I begin to see patterns emerge or as I am having thoughts about what I am seeing and hearing, I will actively share them with you in real time in a way that I think will be helpful to you. I will share my observations and invite you to weigh in with your opinion and response to my observations.

I will aspire to hold up a mirror so that together we can be conscious and clear about the nature and meaning of what you are struggling with. If I am off or only partially right about an observation, I will ask you to correct me so that we can have the same vision and be on the same page about what is taking place. Part of what I will be pointing out and sharing with you is my view of what you are doing in real time to impede your own progress.

As for my observations of what I see in you: Since what I will be saying is so immediate and personal, you may have a reaction to my input, and together we can look at what your reactions are. Chances are that the way you will respond and react to me will be similar to how you respond and react to other people outside of my office, and by closely examining your responses together as they occur we can begin to understand your life in a way that is experiential. Also, in examining your present time experience in this kind of detail, we will have a chance to actually do something to change the patterns in your life that no longer serve you.

In this type of therapeutic work it is common to uncover conflicting motivations. My work is designed to mobilize your strongest and healthiest motivations and through combined efforts, overcome the obstacles between you and your goals.

Through the first session and beyond we may together decide to take a very structured approach. For example, often when a person is struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) the first step is some form of Exposure Therapy. At other times the focus of our sessions remains on relationships, emotions and connections.

Who I Work With and The Problems I Help With

I work with adults.

Most of the people I work with come in with a range of difficulties. These can include but are not limited to low mood, anxiety, addictions, obsessions and compulsions, ADHD, phobias, trauma, chronic pain, difficulties in relationships, difficulties with work, and difficulties with health.

People often ask me “Do you help people with X problem?” or “Do you have much experience helping people with Y?”. While the answer to these questions is typically yes, it is important to understand the difference between the underlying causes of your difficulties and the observable symptoms. For example, two people might come in reporting difficulties with low mood but the causes of their low mood could be quite different. Or the reverse might be true. Two people might come in reporting different symptoms, but the underlying causes of these quite different symptoms might be very similar.

When I work with people I try to help them with the underlying causes of their symptoms, so often questions like the above become less important. With that said, therapy is there to help you with what you want help with. If there is anything that you do not want to look at or work on then we don’t do that.