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My
approach to therapy emphasizes the uniqueness and potential
of each human being. It combines a thorough assessment
of personality with an affirming vision of psychological
and spiritual development. Personal spirituality is
developed from what has purpose and meaning for the
individual.
My
philosophy and practice style are geared to individual
growth and independence, which gives you the confidence
to make life choices and then exercise your capacity
to discover and act upon what is best for you.
Honoring
our psyche/body's innate wisdom about how to heal catalyzes
the healing process and moves us beyond the sense of
being stuck in pain or personal problems. People need
to be listened to deeply, supported and challenged through
their recovery, healing and transformational change
process. Creating a refuge where it is safe to explore
the incredible range of possibilities open to each human
being is a strength and deep intention of mine.
Signature
Character Strengths:
Character Strengths are related to Virtues In Action.
(The virtues of Wisdom & Knowledge, Courage, Humanity
& Love, Justice, Temperance, Transcendence)
Discovering what your Signature Character Strengths
are, results in a profile for knowing who you are.
Isn’t that one of the essential life questions
we all want to answer. (“Who am I?”) Character
is different from personality, aptitude and talent.
Your Signature Character Strengths define you
at your core in a wholly positive manner.
In my work with interested clients, I use the
VIA Character Strengths Survey to identify your five
Signature Character Strengths, measured on a scale of
all 24 Character Strengths.
This empirical tool has been rigorously developed
through the relatively new Science of Positive Psychology
(pioneered by Martin Seligman starting in 1998).
I started using it personally and professionally
in 2003 following my training with Dr. Martin Seligman.
It is a powerful tool to further develop healthy self-esteem
as well as help identify and honor what matters most
to you in life. It can greatly assist you to identify
and create life work you love.
In addition, it can be used to help increase
a Character Strength you might choose to further develop,
such as Gratitude, which is the Character Strength that
correlates with the highest level of life satisfaction. The use of this empirical tool from the
Science of Positive Psychology dove tails strongly with
my long held orientation of using a strengths perspective
as a guide to positive change in areas that matter most
to quality of life.
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Loss/Grief
Specialist
Many of the issues we have as human beings are rooted
in losses of various types, often complicated by aborted,
delayed or avoided grief. With a background in Hospice
work, I have always had grief recovery as an area of
special concentration, assisting people with healthy
grieving techniques and clearing unfinished "business"
which continues to interfere in their every day quality
of life.
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Abuse
& Trauma Recovery
My training in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing provided
a strong basis for working with victim survivors of
abuse and trauma. A large percentage of my practice
is devoted to assisting clients toward recovery, helping
them to understand how their past experiences have contributed
to their troubled lives. From this base of understanding
and insight they are then able to make healthy choices,
changing unhealthy patterns of behavior, reclaiming
their core selves and deeply valuing who they can become
in the present.
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Woman's
Issues
My work with women is centered in assisting them toward
personal empowerment. First they do the deep process
of discovering the health of their self worth, discarding
any lies that come from original messages and beliefs
about "not mattering" or "not being good
enough" and replacing these beliefs with the truth
of their exquisite and valued uniqueness. When healthy
self-valuation is restored, they are no longer at risk
of "giving themselves away" or disavowing
themselves and they operate in the world from a place
of truth and self-empowerment.
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Stress
Management / Wellness
I draw from a wide range of techniques designed to give
each person tools they can draw upon for stress management
and greater inner peace. These techniques aren't pre-packaged.
Instead, the goal is to find tools that are a fit for
the unique personality and life style of the individual,
always honoring what is so for them. This results in
them being able to draw upon themselves as the best
resource available for elegant choices and healing choices
in the over all goal of self-care.
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Spiritual
Counseling
At
the client's suggestion or shared awareness, I will
explore their desire to develop their personal spirituality
and support their journey of discovering and deepening
the spiritual aspect of their being. I consider this
a privilege and among the most gratifying aspects of
my work because it is always personally enriching to
me as well as my clients.
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Personal
Growth & Development
This is the corner stone of my work. Each person comes
with goals that one way or another lead to personal
growth and development; some are deeply troubled, most
are not. Yet each person identifies areas of needed
or desired change. Many are seeking greater life satisfaction
and happiness. Most want to be loved well and to learn
how to love themselves and others more completely. My
personal signature strengths enable and inspire me to
guide them on a volitional path toward what I understand
to be authentic love, authentic intimacy and authentic
happiness.
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Marital
and Relationship Counseling
Usually, relationship problems are rooted in communication
skills that are lacking in the area of an ability to
deeply listen, not simply "hear" audibly.
I teach people to build on and/or develop this skill.
This skill develops greater understanding and validation
of the other, even without agreement. It then leads
to the possibility of problem solving and decision-making
when that is necessary. Above all, it creates an opening
for the development of authentic intimacy and behaviors
of positive regard. Fully developed communication skills
can enhance and restore relationships between life partners,
parents, children, friends, colleagues, and employers.
The time and intention to learn these skills for one
relationship can carry over into most relationships
in life.
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