Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the counselor and client, and the particular problems you are experiencing. There are many different methods I may use to deal with the problems that you hope to address. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select.
I believe that all individuals have an inherent capacity to find a positive direction in life. Occasionally, individuals experience difficulty in coping with certain situations or stressors, which in turn have a detrimental effect on their capacity to resolve their problems. This potentially negative cycle can be corrected by helping individuals develop their natural ability to solve their problems. I see counseling as a process in which you, the client, and I, the counselor, having come to understand and trust one another, work as a team to explore and define these problem situations, develop future goals for an improved life, and work in a systematic fashion toward realizing those goals. The counseling process offers you the opportunity to reinforce your right and responsibility to determine your course of development and growth.