My Approach
Have you ever been told, “Get over it,” “Just move on,” or “Don’t cry”?
That’s often what we hear when we’re hurt or upset. These types of messages are rooted in our culture.
On the surface, they might seem harmless. After all, people who tell us these things are trying to help and make us feel better.
The problem, though, is that these messages imply emotions don’t matter… or that having feelings makes us weak. The more we hear these messages, the more we believe them ourselves.
We learn to suppress our emotions… or even avoid them at all costs.
Maybe you have pushed your feelings away, like spending too much time on your phone, watching too much TV, over-eating, or even over-working.
Don’t get me wrong, we all need to have ways to cope with troublesome feelings so we can get through the day. But we can’t avoid our feelings all the time. When we continually push our feelings away, it makes things worse.
Those feelings don’t just go away. They are still there beneath the surface, and they can wreak havoc in our life. The more we push down our emotions, the more they scream for attention as anxiety, depression, or other symptoms.
Real coping comes when you learn to feel your feelings.
We’re much better off when we don’t avoid our feelings – when we accept them instead of feeling ashamed of them.
This doesn’t mean that you feel your feelings all day long. You start by coming to therapy, a safe space for you to feel what’s inside.
I tend to your feelings, and I help you do the same for yourself. It is a gradual process.
Helping people learn to feel their feelings is the broad brushstroke of my approach. The finer details of my approach vary depending upon your needs and interests.
Here are the finer details of how we’ll get there…
First and foremost, I will listen closely to you and be with you as we explore whatever hurts inside of you.
Depending upon your own individual needs and goals, therapy may involve:
- Working through your self-limiting beliefs
- Helping you to experience your feelings with mindfulness and compassion
- Talking about things in the past, even old hurts from childhood, which can yield new insights that bring healing in the here and now
- Interpreting dreams to gain a deeper understanding of yourself
- Exploring your family history and intergenerational patterns to untangle yourself from the past
Healing differs from relief.
Healing is so much more than just relief from psychological pain; it is the ability to know that when another devastating loss hits or one of your worst fears comes true, you can get through it. You can experience your emotions without getting too overwhelmed and get through to the other side.
With healing comes lasting change and newfound confidence in yourself to live your life more fully and authentically. You can find joy and peace that you never thought possible.
Are you ready to make some lasting changes in your life?
I am here to help you heal from your pain and make changes in your life that lead to greater fulfillment.
It would be my pleasure to talk with you during a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit for each other.
If you’re ready to start your path toward healing, reach out today! (513) 289-1092