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Getting Started

I strongly believe that when the therapist and client are on the same page, therapy is more likely to be helpful to you. Here is a description of what it’s like to work together and some of the values I bring to my work. 

I work with clients ages 18 and up who are ready to work during and outside of sessions. We will be working as a team and I will be here to support you all the way. I will teach you different concepts during therapy sessions and take you through exercises to help you integrate the information to practice in between sessions. I will ask you to be open and curious, but you always have a choice if you feel uncomfortable with an exercise. Therapy isn’t easy and it is often awkward, but it is worth the hard work you put into it. Change means stepping outside of our comfort zone. If you are someone who is willing to learn new concepts and practice them outside of therapy, then we may be a good fit.

In our society, a “symptom” is, by definition, something “pathological” and something we should try to get rid of. This is NOT my approach. Science has been proving for many years that it is ineffective and counterproductive to try to get rid of or control emotions or psychological experiences. Efforts to suppress pain, anxiety, depression, sadness, guilt, etc., are causing more distress and the need for more suppression. This is why symptom reduction is often an unattainable goal. This doesn’t mean that you can’t live a fulfilling life. Pain is a part of being human, a part of being alive. As humans we just have a tendency to make things harder for ourselves by trying to “fix” everything. It is better to be a cat…

 

Also, many behaviors are pathologized in our society that are not pathological such as stimming, communication differences, etc. The medical community and often society in general pathologize what they don’t understand. This is why masking and camouflaging are common ways of coping. We will look in depth at your strengths and your struggles to find a balance of being in a frustratingly unaccepting world. We will look at burnout, masking, creating and maintaining healthy relationships, what brings you joy and what weighs you down.

I aim to help you transform your relationship with your difficult thoughts and feelings. If you don’t feel the need to get rid of them, they can lose their power over you. In therapy, you will learn to reduce their impact and influence through the effective use of psychological skills.

This type of therapy is learned by doing so regular sessions are a good way to start, but we will work with your schedule and your needs. Once you have practiced the skills in your daily life and feel confident using them consistently, we will check-in with each other and see what the next step will be for our sessions. We may end therapy or reduce session frequency depending on your needs. I only do Telehealth video appointments using a HIPAA compliant platform called Sessions Health.

In addition, my practice is not equipped to provide regular support between our scheduled sessions. Keep this in mind as you determine whether I’m a good fit for your needs.

  • Working with me is not like visiting a medical doctor. It’s not just talking about your problems and feelings. It’s a very active form of treatment. It requires your best efforts to change actions which in turn will lead to changes in your relationship with yourself, others, and your life.
  • I encourage you to make therapy a part of your life by reflecting on what we’ve discussed, doing the homework, and practicing skills.
  • Please communicate your needs. When you give me feedback, I consider it an opportunity to move your therapy and the therapeutic relationship in a more workable direction.
  • Therapy won’t be easy. Even though we start therapy seeking change, change is often far more difficult than we anticipated. Be patient, have faith in the process, trust that challenges are a sign of change.

Request to Start Therapy

**I am currently full for therapy appointments, but do have some spots available for Autism/ADHD Evaluations**

Call 360-900-2028 to set up a 15 minute phone consultation. Please leave your name, phone number, and your insurance information in the voicemail. 

Online Services

Therapy Available for All Residents of Washington State: Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham, Spokane, Silverdale, and more...

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