My approaches to counseling primarily include the
following:
Pastoral Counseling
This approach integrates spirituality and
theology with my clinical practice. This approach offers
a holistic approach to health and healing taking into
consideration the spirit as well as the mind and body.
People, who want to honor their faith tradition, want to
incorporate their spiritual walk or just want to heal
from some religious hurt benefit from this approach.
Family Systems
I use the metaphor of a mobile, you know,
the kind you put over a baby’s crib, to describe how
family systems works. You move one part and the whole
thing is affected. Each individual is influenced by
his/her family, workplace, community, culture, etc. and
also each person has an influence on the whole (family,
work, society, and culture.) I help individuals, couples,
entire families see how their interactions help or hurt
one another and, more importantly, what they can do to
make their relationships with one another healthier and
happier.
Cognitive-Behavioral
This approach is most appreciated by
managed care companies because it is solution-focused and
more short-term with oftentimes, measurable results. It
is more “here and now.” What do you need to think and do
differently to get the results you want? For example,
some people who are depressed or anxious have some pretty
negative thoughts which adversely affect their lives. By
helping them “re-think” some of these thoughts, they can
begin to respond more effectively to loved ones, their
work situation, enjoyment of life, etc. To know better (a
different way of thinking and feeling) leads to doing
better (behaviors).
Developmental
People come to me for counseling when they
are in a certain developmental stage of life. That can be
when they are a certain age, they are moving from one
stage to another, i.e., from being single to getting
married, a change in their life occurs, i.e., job loss,
retirement, menopause, etc. Each stage may bring on a
crisis which is experienced as a problem. I help people
see what they need to do to move through this crisis and
begin to see it more as an opportunity for growth.