People come to individual therapy for a lot of reasons:
- they are overcome by situations in their lives.
- they are having problems with a job including managers at work.
- they are having trouble managing a significant loss such as a job,
- they are stressed by financial problems or other concerns,
- they are recovering from a divorce or the loss of a significant relationships,
- they are looking to change habits that are getting in their way of enjoying life and realizing their best, or
- they are getting past the embarrassment of a personal failure.
In other instances, people are struggling with problems that have plagued them all their lives such as:
- a constant sense of agitation or fearfulness that something bad is about to happen,
- problems of inattention and always being up and moving,
- difficulty managing their emotions including sadness and anger.
Should you come to me, I like to listen to your problems and begin the process of understanding those features that might most contribute to what bothers you. I’ll spend time listening to what’s helped you in the past and the strengths you have now to help you with whatever bothers you. I’ll ask you about your general health and medications you might be taking. I’ll also ask you about your past and how things that happened to you as you grew up might influence what’s happening now.
I will also listen to how you talk about your problems and your life. Often, individuals have developed habits of thinking and talking that get in their way. Sometimes simply changing the way you talk about your problems changes the way that you think, feel, and act about yourself and the problems you experience.
In some cases, you might benefit by help from medications. If medication might be helpful, I’ll discuss what I know about the medications and how they might help. I’ll always refer you to a medical doctor or other appropriate professional to check to see if and what medication might help.
If you are married or in a significant relationship, I may ask you to include your spouse or partner at least from time-to-time to increase the benefits of therapy and to protect and strengthen your relationship.