Therapeutic practice

My barebones belief and philosophy of psychotherapy is that all of us are innately whole, wise and skillful in living our lives.

However, many of us are not in touch with those essential qualities for one reason or another. I believe every person has the ability to be highly creative in confronting what is happening in their lives, making needed changes, and rediscovering their strengths when they have the safety and support to do so. And it is within the therapeutic relationship, the space between you and me, where that real growth and change is possible. Therapy offers a safe environment to begin to question, to experiment, to develop, and to practice new ways of thinking about one’s life and new ways of living that may be more in line with what is really desired.

Men and men’s unique issues have particular interest for me. It is my belief that men have been shamed and separated from directly experiencing and expressing the full range of their emotions by societal pressures and expectations. In my practice I have often seen how useful it is for men to become familiar with, to begin to re-own, and then integrate the full emotional spectrum into their lives, including anger and rage as well as the more vulnerable feelings.

Humor is an aspect of therapy that arises naturally as we work together with what is most vital and poignant. While sometimes we know not whether to laugh or cry at our current life experience, deep humor and humanity often arise together and create uplifting moments in therapy work. I see this as part of our human tendency towards health and connection. As a therapist I see also that a part of my job is to take risks, to meet clients with realness versus ‘hiding’ behind the safety of theory or seeking to remain an impartial expert. While I offer my professionalism, I find that my clients also need interaction, deep listening, genuineness, a collaboration, in which both client and clinician are changed. Clients are continually teaching me and expanding my vision as I seek to be more receptive and open to how they are meeting the challenges of living.

At the end of the day, I feel deeply thankful to each client that enters the office.