How I Conduct therapy

My work is informed by an extensive study of psychology, personality theory, and philosophy, which I use to bring depth and structure to the therapy process. At the same time, the heart of my approach is the therapeutic relationship itself— creating a space where clients feel listened to, understood, and supported within the context of an properly boundaried and genuine therapy relationship. I use all theories in a “person-centered” way, which means that I hold an utmost respect for my client’s experience, their goals, and that I spend most of the time during a therapy session attentively listening rather than directing or telling clients what to do. Related to this, I will adjust the kind of therapy I am using in a session depending on what is best for my client and what their desires are for therapy.

Psychotherapeutic Theories/Modalities I Use

  • Psychoanalytic/dynamic theory is all about an exploration of how past relationship experiences (negative and positive) continue to shape ones present day relating to oneself, other people, and the world in general. I utilize psychoanalytic/dynamic theory in order to understand my client’s experience better and to inform how I can provide an optimal healing relationship.

  • Existential therapy is concerned with helping clients grapple with questions such as: “Who am I?”, “How do I live authentically?”, and/or “What is the meaning to my life”?. To varying degrees, these are universal concerns of every human being. I use the accumulated wisdom of existential thinking to help clients figure out these core concerns in their own personal ways.

  • Throughout the field of psychology, it is widely accepted that having well attuned and caring parental-familial figures in early life, provides much of the basis for psycho-emotional well being later in life. I am informed by attachment theory, which is concerned with how one can cultivate secure emotional connections with others. I use the therapy relationship itself to help clients work though whatever relational-attachment difficulties or anxiety they may have. My goal is to arrive at a place with my clients where, perhaps for the first time, they can feel secure enough with another person. This experience then becomes a ‘scaffold experience’ which can be applied in relationships outside of therapy.

  • “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy” (EMDR) is a potent therapeutic technique that involves focusing in on and processing specific traumatic memories to achieve amelioration of post trauma related distress. I have found that EMDR often leads to new insights and accelerates healing when past trauma is a contributing factor to present day struggles. (Note: For clients with more complex forms of trauma, I will likely refer out to therapists who specialize in EMDR and trauma therapy)

  • While insight and process oriented therapy are the main focus of my practice, as is relevant I also regularly integrate evidence-based techniques—such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing—to support practical problem-solving in professional relationship, career, addiction, and other concrete/practical challenges.