My Approach
Therapy grounded in our common humanity
When we work together, we will embark on a journey of discovery. We will travel together to find insight and perspective, meaning, and, finally, recovery.
Perspective & Insight
“It is not the things themselves that disturb men, but their judgements and notions about these things.” – Epictetus
Gaining insight is the first step toward reclaiming your life. We often become overwhelmed by our circumstances, and much of our suffering is worsened by our internal narratives – the things we learned in in the past that no longer serve us. In therapy, we don’t just talk about what happened; we examine the lens through which you see it. By identifying the specific thoughts, judgements, and emotions that worsen your pain, we strip them of their power, moving you from a state of being “hurt and in pain” to a state of clear-eyed observation, choice, and renewed strength.
Meaning
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and out freedom.” – Viktor Frankl
When life becomes heavy or traumatic, we often feel like we are reacting on autopilot, trapped in old loops, discouraged and exhausted. I help you find and widen that “space” between what happens to you and how you respond. Suffering becomes unbearable when it feels meaningless. Together, we explore your unique “why” – what is happening to you, how and why, as well as the values and purposes that define you. By anchoring your journey in meaning, we transform the “how” of your struggle from a source of despair into a path toward personal freedom.
Recovery
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” – Carl Jung
Therapy is more than a weekly vent session; it is a vehicle for transformation. Recovery is an achievable goal. In therapy, we move beyond “coping” and toward the resolution of symptoms. We work together using clinical methods to find concrete tools that allow you to become your own therapist, ensuring that the progress you make in our sessions stays with you for a lifetime.
Important Note on Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences. Plasticity is the capacity to be shaped, molded, or altered; neuroplasticity, then, is the ability for the brain to adapt or change over time, by creating new neurons and building new networks. Historically, scientists believed that the brain stopped growing after childhood. But current research shows that the brain is able to continue growing and changing throughout the lifespan, refining its architecture or shifting functions to different regions of the brain. The importance of neuroplasticity can’t be overstated: It means that it is possible to change dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behaving and to develop new mindsets, new memories, new skills, and new abilities.