This photo was taken in the spring when the falls were gushing, and the water was high in the meadow. I liked the reflection of the falls and granite cliff in the river and how peaceful, yet full of life this spot was. Mirroring is a common approach used in psychotherapy.
Approach To Therapy
I view the therapeutic relationship as a partnership in which we journey together to bring about the change you want in your life. The trusted therapeutic relationship we create provides a “safe, protected space”, the container in which vulnerable issues and intense emotions can be accessed and processed.
My approach to therapy is personalized to each client, integrating multiple complimentary methodologies and techniques. The central theme is my belief in each client and their ability to change, building upon their strengths, and helping them identify and achieve the goals that are important to them.
I strive to create a healing environment, a place where you can learn about negative behavioral patterns that have kept you stuck, and a place to practice new ways of thinking and behaving.
Useful Links
Therapeutic Approaches and Methods
Depending on your specific needs and concerns, I will draw on various therapy approaches based on which method or combination of methods will benefit you the most. Some people are looking for a short term, solution-focused therapy, psycho-educational, or skill-building approaches. These types of counseling focus on resolving a specific problem, such as decreasing the arguing with a loved one or improving communication skills. Short term therapy typically lasts anywhere from 5 to 10 sessions.
Some people are interested in more in-depth, long term counseling. For example, learning to cope with a serious psychiatric disorder, addiction recovery, or recovering from abuse or neglect would require more long term psychotherapy. Long term therapy works best, having a frequency of at least one time per week.
Mouse over each bullet below to learn more.
Focuses on changing undesirable behaviors. It involves identifying objectionable, maladaptive behaviors and replacing them with healthier types of behavior. Behavioral therapy is the opposite of cognitive therapy.
Assumes that faulty thought patterns, belief systems, and biases influence emotions and their intensity, and can cause maladaptive behavior. The treatment focuses on changing thought patterns and reactions in order to solve psychological and personality problems.
Focuses on unconscious processes that are embodied in a person’s present behavior. The goals of therapy are self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior. This approach enables individuals to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms from past dysfunction.
A branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. It emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in psychological health.
Seeks to be a respectful, non-blaming approach to counseling that considers people the expert in their own lives. It views problems as something people experience rather than something they are and assumes people have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, commitments and abilities that will assist them to reduce the influence of problems in their lives.
In addition, I use the following methods:
A technique designed to have clients recall or construct specific incidents, visualize particular places, or explore emotional responses.
A technique that creates a strong and safe healing container that supports clients to open fully to their own creative process.
A dynamic and excessive form of psychotherapy that allows clients to express themselves and their feelings through symbols and metaphors.
The systematic inquiry into or use of dreams with the purpose of healing or self-development.
Therapeutic Approaches and Methods
- Greater sense of well-being and/or inner peace — feel more comfortable or secure in the world
- Improved intimacy in relationships — feel more connected with others
- Acknowledging and working through losses
- Navigating difficult life transitions
- Achieving work/life balance
- Creating healthy boundaries
- Improved self-esteem – feel better about yourself
- Assertive communication skills
- Prevention of relapse/stabilization/maintenance
- Reduction in self-destructive behavior
- Self-examination — understand your own thoughts, feelings, and responses better
- Behavior change — learn new behaviors and/or responses which can help you to achieve your goals
- Crisis management/stabilization
- Development of coping strategies
- Reduce stress (which promotes physical health too)
Therapy is a Process
Therapy is a process that helps us toward greater health and more peace. Process is defined as “a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result” — an excellent description of therapy.
Because we are social by nature, it is “natural” that we recover from stress and trauma better if we work through it with another person than if we isolate ourselves in hurt. Sometimes that process can be a simple reframe, but more often change is gradual. While we set out goals at the start of therapy to help us work together toward a “particular result”, those goals can change in the course of the gradual process of change. Hopefully we at least produce relief of symptoms, but often we uncover more of you, and more meaning in your life than you had thought possible.
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Santa Cruz Family Therapy
1840 41st Ave, Suite 102 – Box 281
Capitola, CA 95010