Pulling back the curtain…
I have always believed that there are 3 essential elements necessary for me to be an effective therapist: being genuine in session, having unconditional positive regard for my clients and extending empathetic understanding. A guy named Carl Rogers built Person Centered Therapy in the 70s on those three tenets, so I feel that’s a pretty solid place to start.
I’m an encourager
Everyone deserves to be affirmed. You can fail, but you are not a failure. You may have hurt someone you love, but you are still a person of worth and value. At least that’s how I see it.
I love to laugh
I’ve earned my grey hair
I’m real and honest
I don’t think I’d be much of a therapist who specializes in relationships if I wasn’t relatable. The sessions are focused on my clients, but I share who I am to help them recognize that they are not alone. I hold a mirror up to those I work with and point out what they need to see when they need to see it.
When appropriate, I introduce and encourage humor in sessions. It takes courage to come to therapy and I want to honor that bravery. While some sessions can be pretty challenging, I try to lighten the tone when possible. As Mary Poppins said, “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”.
I’ve certainly been through my fair share of bumps and bruises in life. I believe that I’ve become a wise old man as a result. I share stories, perspectives and concepts to “chew” on that were gained by a lifetime of falling down and getting back up.
This is how I work best and nearly every client who is willing to try it finds it just as effective as being in-person. I utilize Zoom to conduct sessions, allowing clients to meet from the safe, comforting environment of their own homes, according to their schedules. They do not lose drive time and sometimes even meet from their cars because of the flexibility it provides for their schedules. I am just as able to connect with my clients and can more easily share tools and materials electronically. If you’re unsure about meeting virtually then setup a consultation with me and you’ll get a chance to give it a test drive.