Individual Psychotherapy

Participating in individual therapy can give you the opportunity to be heard without judgment. Sometimes going to friends or family members with our problems is just not enough. They may not be trained to handle the challenges that you're going through, or they may have difficulty being neutral and unbiased. Finding a therapist that is a good fit for you can be invaluable in getting through life's tough times, setting and achieving goals, and learning new life and coping skills. Everyone needs a safe place to unwind and receive support, encouragement, guidance, and the gentle truth.

My former clients have shared with me some reasons why they chose me as their therapist, and what their experience has been like working with me. Initially people often realize that I'm a warm person who really cares and genuinely wants to help. After some time of working with me, I have been told that I'm wise, comforting, helpful, and knowledgeable. I've received feedback that I'm patient, kind, and creative.
I consider it an honor to be a part of a person or family's journey in life, and especially to be able to get them through the hard times. I know how difficult it is to share your inner- most thoughts, feelings, and fears, and I treat your story and struggles with the utmost respect.  Everything is kept in strict confidence and all of my clients are warned ahead of time that the only times I'll share anything is 1) if they signed a release of information giving me permission to share information with someone specific, 2) if I feel that they're in danger of ending their own life or someone else's, or 3) they inform me of child or elder abuse which legally has to be reported. When my client is a child, I let them and their parents/guardian know that it's important for the child to be able to feel safe opening up to me and therefore I will keep their information confidential as well. I do encourage my younger clients to tell their parents about certain things that might be important or helpful for them to know and I try my best to keep parents in the loop without breaking confidentiality. I also strive to invite families to participate in family sessions when appropriate.  In addition, I'm happy to coordinate treatment with Psychiatrists, Physicians, or teachers when requested. 
The length of treatment for my clients varies tremendously. Some people have a specific goal that they are trying to attain in a rather short amount of time in which case we may only meet 6 or 8 times. Sometimes my clients have long-term and ongoing struggles such as dealing with anxiety, depression, or self-esteem issues, in which case therapy could last for several months or even a year or more. I welcome clients to come back every now and then for maintenance sessions or to get help with a specific issue that has arisen, even after their initial goals are met. Overall, however, I strive to help my clients learn new coping skills and tools so that they can be self-sufficient and not dependent on therapy long-term. In certain situations I may assist clients in learning how to deal with and reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression so that they may be able to wean off of medication if their doctor is in agreement that this would be an appropriate course of treatment.