My approach includes the following:
- Holistic Focus—This focus acknowledges the connection between one’s mental, emotional, physical and spiritual (as defined by the client) well-being. To affect change, usually more than one of these areas need attention.
- Adult Attachment Theory–A primary motivation in all people is the need to seek and maintain contact with others. There is a direct link between childhood attachment patterns, adult attachment styles, and functioning in intimate and romantic relationships.
- Relational Therapy–The primary goal of this technique is to empower the client with the skills necessary to recognize and create productive and healthy relationships.
- Strengths-Based Counseling—The primary goal is to focus on what is going right in a person’s life. The counselor and client work together to find past and present successes and use these to address the challenges being faced.
- Journal Therapy—The goal is to use writing as a tool toward achieving the client’s therapeutic goals.
There are almost as many definitions of therapy approaches, as there are therapists. Achieving positive and successful results in therapy is based on the strength of the relationship between therapist and client and not any particular school of therapy. Your relationship with your counselor is essential to having a fulfilling counseling experience. Therefore, I offer my approaches to counseling as an overview and a way of getting to know who I am.
I believe the relationship with yourself (self-esteem) and your relationships with others (social interest) are essential to living a fulfilling life. To that extent, several of my approaches to counseling focus on understanding the power of relationship. We feel our best when we recognize our own goodness, feel connected to others and know that we are part of the whole.