Individuals

Time to Set Burdens Down

Sometimes things that happened to us when we were young still make it hard for us to feel safe in the world, or to trust others or even ourselves. You might feel that you are carrying around something from the past, and it is weighing you down. There’s a saying: It’s not you, it’s what happened to you. Are you looking for someone to help you process some of that old pain so you can stop worrying so much, and not be so hard on yourself? If so, I can help.

Depth Psychotherapy

My approach is integrative and holistic, which means I do not adhere to a single type of therapy. I would rather respond in real time to you, the client, in all of your uniqueness. I am primarily a psychodynamic therapist, which means that you get to bring all of you to our sessions: your history, your fears, your fantasies, your dreams, and your spiritual side. My approach can also be called “depth psychology,” which means we get to explore beyond behavior to look into and heal the causes of behavior. This has a longer-lasting effect; it is the difference between simply changing a habit and actually feeling better about yourself and your life.

There are some specific techniques I sometimes use, depending on the situation. EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a fascinating, gentle technique for processing distressing memories. Sandplay therapy provides an opportunity for nonverbal processing, although it is accompanied by talk therapy. In sandplay therapy, you get to build a “world” or a “picture” through the arrangement of objects in a sand-filled tray. Both of these techniques gently move us beyond our discursive thinking towards a whole-mind and whole-body understanding. Both of these techniques will be described in greater detail in my upcoming blog.

A Little Encouragement

It takes courage to start therapy, because sometimes it seems easier to just keep going along, surviving, doing fine but never quite thriving. But the rewards can be great when we decide to listen to that part of us that wants to heal and to grow, even when things have been pretty dark. Therapy can’t change the past, but we can light a candle in that darkness and forge a creative path forward.