About Therapy

Making a change has been long overdue.

It feels like you’ve been standing in the mud with your shoes sinking deeper. Tension is building and overthinking sets in.

You know what you need to do, but you can’t seem to move.

What if your whole shoe comes off in the mud, and you’re left with nothing but socks? What if others see how ridiculous you look trudging through the grime? What if you fall entirely?

You know where you stand now. It’s not getting better, but it’s not getting worse (yet).

So many obstacles can bring us to a breaking point…

You could be stuck in anxiety or depression – every day is so overwhelming and exhausting. You feel disconnected from yourself and everyone else around you. You know there are things you should do to help yourself, but you can’t seem to find the time or energy to get to work on your own.

Children and teens who are struggling are not only stuck themselves but can keep the whole family stuck. Maybe it’s a phase, and they will grow out of it, but perhaps not. “Acting out” is not merely for attention. Often, it’s a cry for help or a reflection that something is really wrong.

Partners and spouses get stuck in conflict. Another day, another argument chipping away at the relationship. Each person feels more and more alone and less like they know this other person who was supposed to be their other half.

Gaining traction, creating connections, and living a better life…

It might be uncomfortable, but that’s what therapy can give you.

Many people feel like they don’t know what they are supposed to say or do in therapy sessions. It feels awkward telling a stranger you just met all about your problems.

Or maybe you’ve been in counseling or therapy before, and it’s a lot to re-tell your story to someone new and get them up to speed.

I’m not here to judge or analyze you – there aren’t any wrong answers. I’m here to listen, empathize, and understand. Your story is not “too much,” and I look forward to hearing it and holding it with you.

The first connection we’ll make is as two people working together.

In the initial session, I take time to hear your story, ask questions, and understand your needs. Then you ask the questions. What do you need to know about me that will help us work together? I want you to have all the information you need right up front.

In the sessions that follow, we create connections between your past and present experiences, between your emotions and actions, and between your values and decisions.

When you’re stuck in a swirl of emotions, stress, and demands, you can’t possibly see clearly. You’re in survival mode. Therapy gives you the chance to step out of survival mode and gain perspective.

I will help you uncover the patterns in your life and relationships that keep you stuck. Once we can see them, we disrupt and dismantle them. We can build new patterns and connections that help you move forward.

In doing this, you step out of only surviving into thriving.

This is where your shoes might come off in the mud, and you’re left in your socks. I know it’s awkward and messy to walk in the mud with no shoes, but we need to let go of the outer layer of protection or “safety” that actually kept you standing in one place.

Our therapy together will not be a one-size-fits-all program.

What works for other clients may or may not work for you. I will help you discover your strengths and give you the tools to cope with stress and solve problems.

To harness those strengths, we’ll dig deep to figure out what you’ve done that works and either do more of it or tweak it to suit your present needs.

And you’ll learn new ways of solving problems so that you always have options. That might look like accountability – someone to help you make a plan and stick to it. Or, it’s a matter of adopting a new perspective and applying it effectively to life’s challenges.

When you have a better understanding of yourself and more tools for dealing with problems, you’re in a much better position to connect with others in your life and deepen relationships. You can start to understand how your relationships with others have shaped who you are, and you can see how you have influenced them. Then you can walk through and take steps, not worrying about what others think of you.

It’s worth “putting yourself out there” and moving toward others. Relationships can be resources instead of burdens or obligations.

You might fall. That’s a real possibility. But if you fall, you’ll be so much stronger and better able to handle the setback than you were before. You’ll have the confidence to rise and try again.

And you’ll have me at your side… ready to help.

I’m your shoulder to lean on. Let me help you keep your balance.

The right time to take the first step is now.

Call me at (540) 324-9079 or schedule an appointment online for a free 15-minute consultation.

I’m here to answer your questions and help you decide if I am the right therapist for you.