INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

People come to therapy because
they want to change.

And usually the reason they want to change is that they are suffering. Their suffering is causing symptoms—like sadness or excessive worrying or relationship problems, to name a few. They are willing to reveal intimate and personal parts of themselves to a caring therapist because they really want to figure out what’s going wrong so they can find a way to feel better.

One of our immediate tasks will be to help you get relief from some of your symptoms. That might mean adopting some new habits and letting go of old coping styles or relationships that are hurting you. In many cases, you already know what you need to do to make your life better. You come to therapy for help putting into practice what you know would help.

In addition, we need to take a deeper look at the sources of your suffering—the reasons these symptoms emerged in the first place. We’ll move gently and mindfully into those tender places. Yes, we’ll probably talk about your childhood. Not to dredge up every painful incident but to connect together with that part of you that’s locked in the struggles of the past. And we’ll talk about what’s happening right here, right now, in the space we’ve made together and in the relationship we are creating with one another. These are ways to get beyond the outer symptoms to connect with and heal the suffering within.

Therapy isn’t easy! There’s a reason it’s sometimes called “work.” But I hope you’ll find it worth the time and effort it takes to make the changes you know you need.