Approach to Treatment
Whether I’m working with individuals or couples, I practice empirically-validated, theoretically grounded approaches to treatment, with an emphasis on helping you explore the underlying emotions fueling your behaviors. Although the particular intervention I use in a given moment may vary according to your individual needs, my approach is always aimed at helping you create more flexible ways of processing your inner world, and helping you make better use of your emotions to guide your choices.
People become distressed when they feel stuck in patterns of thought or behavior that feel detrimental yet compelling. Oftentimes these patterns arose as your best way of dealing with circumstances in a context where choices were limited. However, circumstances change, and responses become obsolete. Yet your underlying emotional blueprint can make it incredibly difficult to change your behaviors even when intellectually you may want to respond differently. The most important factor in personal change, therefore, is the creation of new emotional experience.
Therapy involves engaging in conversations aimed at helping you identify and transform your underlying emotional blueprints. I see my role as a process facilitator—collaboratively working with you to explore your inner experience, and helping you access the motivation and/or courage to modify the behaviors that are troubling you most. At the end of this process, you will be able to respond to the people and situations around you in a way that leaves you feeling in greater harmony with yourself and others.