my approaches to therapy
relational cultural therapy | acknowledges the role culture and society plays in shaping our experiences & places emphasis on the healing power of healthy relationships
acceptance and commitment therapy | teaches us how to use our values to guide our life, not our emotions
schema therapy | a deep dive into how our early life experiences impact how we view and interact with the world
imago therapy (couples) | teaches partners to address one another’s childhood wounds with empathy, communication, and connection
gottman method (couples) | skills to improve communication, repair after conflict, and strengthen connection
you deserve to live a meaningful life with fulfilling relationships. i can help you reach that.
what individual therapy is like
you and i start out in our first session by discussing some background information; i get your history and ask you about any symptoms you may be experiencing. sessions moving forward look like a self-paced exercise in exploring your inner world. i help guide you on how to deepen your understanding of yourself, helping you answer the deeply held question “why am i like this?”. after a few sessions together, you start to see yourself in a different light- you start to see that you’re not a messed up, unlovable person. no, you’re just a guy trying to cope in the best way you know how. soon, your inner critic goes quiet. over time, you trust me more with the parts of yourself you’re ashamed of. and through that trust, comes the transformational experience of feeling genuine connection and acceptance without condition. before you know it, you’re living a life characterized by meaning and fulfillment instead of shame and avoidance. i help you learn more about yourself, offer suggestions on how to reach your goals, and challenge you to grow into the person you want to be.
what couples counseling is like
we all start our first session by discussing the history of your relationship- you tell me about the different seasons of life your relationship has weathered. i learn more about your history, and what problems currently exist. sessions moving forward look like exploring what conflict is rising to the surface in a safe and controlled environment, i remain a calm presence to help guide everyone’s emotions back to a tolerable level. we dig into everyone’s personal histories, and help connect that to the relationship patterns seen today. i know these relationship patterns are historical, and soon enough you and your partner(s) do too; empathy starts to grow. i provide the structured tools needed to connect deeper when navigating conflict & guide you on repairing the relationship when it ruptures. suddenly, vulnerability feels like an opportunity for connection instead of stress. the safety that you’ve been searching for in your life is now possible with the person right in front of you.