My Approach to Therapy

Person Centered Therapy

I primarily operate from a framework and approach of “Person Centered Therapy” as developed by Dr. Carl Rogers.

It is an approach that emphasizes the relationship between the person in therapy and the therapist. It is necessary for the therapist to provide unconditional positive regard, to be genuine, empathetic, and understanding. From here we can develop a relationship that serves you in addressing your goals.

Whatever you experience in life, your values, your beliefs, your past, your goals, etc., I am here to understand you, and work with you. I believe we can use your strengths to help tackle these challenges, and I hope to show you how you can.

Photo by: Michael Bacon all rights reserved

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

I also use elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (also known as “CBT”). CBT was developed by Dr. Aaron Beck, and entails examining a person’s psychology through thinking critically about patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior. This is done to identify rigid “beliefs” you may have about yourself, the world, other people, and the future.

These beliefs often steer how you may react, think, and feel about the world, yourself, and other people. This can be in ways that are both “helpful”, and “unhelpful”. CBT aims to think critically about understanding how those beliefs affect you, so we can find new ways of thinking and reacting to problems, so that you can challenge and change beliefs and ways of thinking to help you enact behaviors that serve your goals

Photo by: Michael Bacon all rights reserved

Psychoeducation

Knowledge is power. I think knowing and understanding what’s affecting you, how, and why, serves to empower you in addressing your goals.

I like to bring in education to help you to better understand what you’re experiencing, why its the case, and how to use that information to your advantage.

From there, we can collaborate on identifying a course of action in treatment that is based in our best current understanding of the science, and a course of action that also aligns with your world-view.

Photo by: Michael Bacon all rights reserved

Motivational Interviewing

I also utilize a lot of “Motivational Interviewing”. Motivational Interviewing was an approach developed by Dr. William R Miller and Dr. Stephen Rollnick.

Motivational Interviewing entails us exploring your desired outcomes, and the obstacles in front of of those outcomes. It does not entail “instruction”, but we explore the issues, how they affect you, and exploring the emotions and thoughts and feelings around your experience.

From there, I use questions, reflections, that can help us to explore and find new ways to address goals or obstacles that you’ve struggled with.

Photo by: Michael Bacon all rights reserved