Therapy Services

Individuals

Your Journey Through Individual Therapy: Exploring Your Inner World with IFS

Embarking on therapy with me is an opportunity to explore your inner world with curiosity and compassion, using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model.  This approach recognizes that you have many different "parts" within you – each with its own unique perspective, feelings, and motivations.  Therapy becomes a journey of self-discovery, where we work together to understand these parts, heal any wounds they may be carrying, and ultimately create a more harmonious and integrated inner system.

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Here’s what you can expect in our work together:

  • Our first session will focus on getting to know you and your story.  We'll begin to explore the landscape of your inner world, identifying some of your key parts and the roles they play in your life. This initial stage emphasizes building a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship, grounded in self-compassion and understanding.

  • We'll work together to identify and understand the different parts within you.  Some parts might be protective, others might be more vulnerable, and still others might carry specific emotions or memories.  We'll approach each part with curiosity and respect, seeking to understand its positive intentions, even if its strategies are causing challenges in your life.

  • IFS therapy emphasizes the presence of a core "Self" within each of us – a place of wisdom, compassion, and resilience.  We'll explore how to access and strengthen this "Self," allowing it to guide the healing process and create more balance within your inner system.

  • Through gentle exploration and dialogue, we'll work with your parts to understand their needs and concerns.  Often, parts are carrying burdens from past experiences.  We'll help these parts release those burdens, allowing them to take on more positive and helpful roles.  Your "Self" will play a key role in this process, offering compassion, understanding, and leadership.

  • As your parts begin to heal and your "Self" becomes more prominent, you'll experience greater inner harmony and integration.  You'll develop a deeper understanding of yourself, your emotions, and your relationships.  This increased self-awareness will empower you to make conscious choices that align with your values and goals.

Understanding Your Inner System:

We'll explore the dynamics between your different parts, recognizing how they interact and influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Accessing Self-Compassion:

Through guided exercises and reflections, we'll cultivate self-compassion, allowing you to approach your parts with kindness and understanding.

Connecting with Your "Self":

We'll focus on strengthening your connection to your core "Self," empowering you to access its wisdom, compassion, and resilience.

Healing Wounded Parts:

We'll work with your parts to identify and heal any emotional wounds they may be carrying, freeing them from limiting beliefs and behaviors.

Building Inner Harmony:

As your parts heal and your "Self" takes a more prominent role, you'll experience greater inner peace and balance.

This journey of self-discovery is unique to each individual. I am here to guide you with compassion and expertise as you explore your inner world and create a more fulfilling life.

Couples

Your Journey Through Couples Counseling: Building a Stronger Connection with the Gottman Method

Embarking on couples counseling is an investment in your relationship, a journey of rediscovery and growth.  Using the Gottman Method, a research-based approach, we'll work together to strengthen your bond, improve communication, and build a more fulfilling partnership.  This approach emphasizes understanding your relationship's unique dynamics and providing practical tools to navigate challenges and enhance connection.

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Deepening Core Principles of the Gottman Method:

  • Our first session will focus on getting to know you as a couple and understanding your shared history, current challenges, and relationship goals. We'll explore the strengths and areas for growth in your relationship, laying the foundation for our work together.  This initial stage emphasizes creating a safe and collaborative space for both partners.

  • We'll use Gottman's comprehensive assessment tools, including questionnaires and joint interviews, to gain a deeper understanding of your relationship dynamics. This assessment will help us identify patterns of interaction, communication styles, and areas of conflict.  Based on this assessment, we'll collaboratively develop a personalized roadmap for your journey towards a stronger connection.

  • The Gottman Method utilizes the metaphor of a "Sound Relationship House," comprised of nine interconnected components essential for a healthy relationship. We'll explore each of these components, including building love maps (understanding each other's inner worlds), fostering fondness and admiration, turning towards bids for connection, and managing conflict.

  • A key focus of our work will be on improving your communication skills and developing constructive strategies for managing conflict. We'll learn to identify and address negative communication patterns, such as criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling (the "Four Horsemen"), and replace them with more positive and productive interactions.

  • We'll explore your shared values, goals, and dreams for the future.  This involves creating rituals of connection, finding common ground, and supporting each other's individual aspirations.  Strengthening this sense of shared meaning can deepen your bond and create a stronger sense of purpose as a couple.

Building Love Maps:

We'll learn to create detailed "love maps" of each other's lives, including their history, hopes, fears, and stressors. This deepens understanding and fosters empathy.

Fostering Fondness and Admiration:

We'll focus on rekindling or strengthening feelings of fondness and admiration for each other, which are essential for maintaining a positive connection.

Turning Towards Bids for Connection:

We'll learn to recognize and respond positively to each other's "bids" for connection, even small ones, building a stronger foundation of emotional responsiveness.

Managing Conflict:

We'll develop practical skills for managing conflict constructively, including learning to repair and de-escalate arguments.

Overcoming Gridlock:

For persistent conflicts, we'll explore ways to understand the underlying values and needs driving each partner's perspective, fostering greater understanding and acceptance.

Creating Shared Meaning:

We'll identify shared values, create rituals of connection, and support each other's dreams, building a deeper sense of purpose as a couple.

This journey of strengthening your relationship is a collaborative process. I am here to guide you with compassion and expertise as you work together to build a more fulfilling and lasting partnership.