TREATMENT APPROACH
Individual and family sessions typically begin weekly to promote consistency and progress toward treatment goals, with sessions decreasing in frequency as treatment goals are being met. Sessions can be adjusted to fit your particular needs, such as increasing or decreasing the frequency of sessions.
Interventions are tailored to fit your unique situation. I integrate a variety of treatment methods, as I believe there is no “one size fits all” type of therapy. Along with traditional ‘talk therapy,’ my style is to incorporate creative mechanisms in sessions, which might include music, art, poetry, bibliotherapy, etc., depending on your specific needs. I like to draw upon your personal strengths and integrate them in the course of therapy.
Individual Therapy
For adults, depending on your needs, we may look at how your early childhood experiences, family, and social relationships play a role in your current functioning. We might also look into how your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are impacting your current functioning. If we can identify negative patterns and stressors that contribute to your distress, that means we can work toward improving your mindsets, outlook on life, communication skills, and promoting more adaptive ways of dealing with situations in your life. Don’t worry; there will be balance. We will also focus on your positive attributes and strengths as well, and use them to your advantage.
For younger children, my treatment approach is to utilize play therapy. Typically, children are not able to express themselves in the manner in which adults can in traditional ‘talk therapy’. Play is the language in which children are able to express their feelings, thoughts, fears, worries, etc. Depending on the specific goal(s) collaboratively decided upon for your child, the nature of the play methods will be focused on working toward the specified goal(s).
With pre-teens and adolescents, I like to incorporate art, music, activities, crafts, etc. into the sessions along with ‘talk therapy’. This helps to create a safe, supportive, and trusting atmosphere in which teens can freely share thoughts, feelings, and concerns, while working toward treatment goals. When working with children and teens, I work collaboratively with parents/caregivers. I believe progress is able to happen when parents/caregivers play an instrumental role in the therapeutic process.
Family Therapy
For families, we look at your role in your family, the roles of your family members, how your family relates to one another and communicates, typical types of interactions, and generational/ intergenerational patterns that impact how your family is currently functioning, for the purpose of improving family relationships, and working toward reconciliation.