INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy provides a unique opportunity for individuals to face challenges in their lives. I believe that people are inherently capable of choosing what is best for them physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. Often they are stuck in old patterns of perception, thought, feelings and behavior that lead to anxiety, depression, and compulsive or destructive behaviors. Sometimes they try harder, when what is needed is new awareness to increase their choices. Sometimes, they want others to change and lose sight of the fact that their potency is within themselves. Other times, they need more support, either learning to support themselves more effectively or to seek resources in their life space. The therapist can be an interim support in this process. The goal of therapy is choice. In order to have choice, one must be aware. The psychotherapy session is an interactive, collaborative, respectful process that provides a “safe enough” environment to become aware of patterns, experiment with new possibilities and enable the client to make responsible choices that affect the individual and those around them.
COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPY
Couples often base their ways of relating on their original family or on myths about intimacy and family from various media. Either couples copy the model, or rebel and do the opposite. With the divorce rate above 60% for first marriages (even higher for subsequent ones) clearly, these models don’t work well. Couples continue to try because an intimate relationship is the major way most of us find meaning in life. Dealing with differences and the basic human dilemma of ‘how to be connected to another yet maintain a self’ is the major work of couples therapy.
GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY
Few experiences provide the opportunity to interact and receive open and honest feedback from other people as does group psychotherapy. The therapist can facilitate awareness of patterns and difficulties in communication styles in the moment. Group members can learn about process and patterns by observing others, hearing from others the range of normal experience, and supporting each other through life challenges. An interview session is required.
HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis is not an alternative to traditional medicine or psychotherapy, but an effective complement to it. It has often been defined as “relaxed concentration”. While hypnosis is not appropriate for everyone, many people benefit from learning to relax under situations of intense stress, whether studying for exams, applying for a job, public speaking, or having an invasive medical procedure (dental work or surgery).