Individual Therapy

Individual therapy is a joint effort through where we work one-on-one in a safe, judgment free, and confidential environment. Identifying pieces of their lives that they would like to change, better understand themselves and/or others, and work toward the desired changes.  The overall goal of therapy is to increase one’s sense of well-being.

Substance Abuse

I believe that individuals with long-term substance abuse problems have experienced something that makes then unable to fully participate in their life. Not knowing how to handle the past or everyday life we start searching for a way to ease the burden.  Very rarely is it just about the desire and effects. We have to heal from the past then learn how to handle the everyday chaos.  Turning to a substance to cope in the past may have been effective, but the side effects were huge.  In some cases those side effects include jeopardizing health, your home, relationships even your freedom. That is a pretty high price to pay for a coping mechanism. I describe it as using a sledge hammer to put a tac in the wall. The tac definitely went into the wall, but we demolished half the wall in our efforts. Instead, lets use tools that are meant for that specific job. Through treatment we address the past so we can leave it where it belongs, in the past.

Marriage and Family Therapy

I have a different approach to marriage counseling. I start with asking the couple to picture when they were happy together…. then I ask how old that picture is in their minds. The thing about memories is they fade- so when the picture of a happy marriage in our head is 5-10 years old its hard to remember what you are fighting so hard for. The goal of marriage counseling is to understand the relationship dynamic of the couple, and to identify areas of strain and frustration which add stress to the relationship. In marriage counseling, the couple can explore their perception of the relationship, their expectations of each other, and the situations which may be causing them to feel alienated or hurt from each other.

NADA  Acupuncture

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA).

Trained clinicians apply up to five fine-gauge, sterilized, one-time use stainless steel needles just under the skin at designated points in each ear (it doesn't hurt or I would not have made it through the class). The needles remain there 30-45 minutes. The procedure functions as an add-on to another treatment program that offers other therapeutic elements such as counseling, education, family involvement, mutual support group involvement, and hypnotherapy.  Benefits reported by both clients and clinicians are lower anxiety, decreased depression, better sleep, a more optimistic and cooperative attitude, improved program retention.

Interventions

Sometimes people have a hard time acknowledging to themselves more less anyone else that they have a problem. Addiction is no different- Sometimes we don't recognize the negative effects of our behavior on ourselves or on the people around us.  Family and friends are put in a position where they don’t know what to do to help. One option is doing an intervention. Let me specify when I do an intervention its not like it is on TV. During an intervention family and friends come together to tell the person how much they love/care for them but their behaviors and decisions are hurting them and what will happen if it continues. Ideally we create a nonjudgmental, helpful, loving experience- not the tough love approach. Everything is coordinated before the meeting with clear steps, goals and guidelines so the first steps toward recovery are a smooth process. A lot of the time the person who is having the problem is scared but willing to get the help they need.

My overall Mission

My mission is pretty simple- I am here to help. Between the two of us we try to figure out what is going on and how to address it. My practice is small intentionally so I can spend the time and effort needed on each client.