The Making of a Psychotherapist
Your first step into the uncharted waters of psychotherapy is an important one. Making that first phone call to an unfamiliar person for help means that challenges of daily life have become very difficult. Learning to do psychotherapy is not merely a graduate degree and attending a handful of workshops. It is a life long process of professional development.
As a psychologist, there were not only rigors of course work, but the writing of a dissertation and requirements of a licensing board. These experiences are the nuts and bolts of ones' career, yet, it is only the beginning. Experience, both clinical and life, personal analysis, supervision with other respected clinicians, and many hours of practice leads to strengthen the skill set to help.
Once you make the appointment, I will provide a safe therapeutic environment to explore and discover ways to ease the challenges that you feel in the work- place, marriages, social relationships, and family life. Trust is the foundation of any relationship. It is no different in the patient-therapist relationship. I work very hard to cultivate a deepening trust so that we can strengthen our collaboration. This is accomplished through listening, understanding, and feedback.
An appreciation of one's early and later development, family life, school experiences, and social experiences is critical. Respect for events that left emotional scars is critical to understanding present day challenges. If the therapeutic relationship is allowed to grow over time, change and an alleviation of emotional pain is inevitable.
My therapeutic philosophy is simple. I believe we are able to rewrite our script, produce it and direct it on the stage of life. We can temper old ways of behaving, and reduce there influence on it. Remembering that these old ways are a part of us to be loved and cared for, and not denied. We can also regain our footing in life by nourishing new actions and responses.
Appointments
If your thinking about seeking psychotherapy, please contact me. I can accommodate for most day and evening hours. I may be reached at 201-447-4715.
