The Center for Counseling Arts

Like Carl Rogers said, "the curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."

The human experience enriches and fascinates me. Both my parents were school teachers, and I expected to follow a similar career path until psychology resonated with me on a profound level. To grow, to gain insight, to apply new skills for changing persistent problems - the journey of self-discovery is incredibly rewarding; and these days I am privileged to partner with clients on their paths of overcoming barriers and and creating healthy change.

I tend to conceptualize problems from a cognitive-behavioral orientation and incorporate interventions primarily from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This means I see our patterns of emotions and behavior as resulting from our beliefs about ourselves and the world. Any pattern that has been made can be unmade. We can foster both acceptance and accountability. Every person is doing the best they can in their circumstances, and my goal is to enable you to identify who you want to be and to provide you with the skills needed to get there, whether by working through trauma, navigating a transitional period in life, or simply deciding that now is the time for building your best life.

The foundation of long-term personal growth is the safety to be oneself. I work with unconditional acceptance and support, allowing room for exploration and experimentation without rejection or shame. We must challenge ourselves to confront the emotions and the behaviors that cause pain, but we do not need be alone in the process.

A little more regarding some of my modalities:

Positive Psychology: A scientific approach to better knowing our thoughts, feelings and behaviors, positive psychology centers on character strengths and those actions or patterns that enable you to build a life of value, purpose and meaning — to thrive. When we approach from a positive point of view, we look closely at what is going right, at the strengths and the special attributes that make you unique, and the elements of a good life.

Solution Focused Brief (SFBT): Problems typically capture our attention because they are a threat to our wellbeing. But the problem does not contain the solution. Shifting to solution focused means identifying what is wanted instead of the problem, finding exceptions, and creating new ways of living in the solution, rather than the problem. SFBT focuses on the future and your goals; on motivating, achieving and sustaining your desired changes.

Humanistic: Free-will and your capacity to live well are the hallmarks of humanistic psychology, and in this perspective we keep in mind your whole identity to enable self-sufficiency, self-actualization, your deepest growth and highest potential. Humanism believes in the your motivation to pursue personal achievement and provides the support for self-discovery and your fullest personal development.