About the Above Specialties & How We Would Work Together on Them
Adults Abused as Children:
Different people react differently to stress related abuse when they were
children. Abused children believe they are bad, feel guilty and not
deserving of being loved for themselves. In a caring and safe environment,
and at a pace with which you feel comfortable, we will work on understanding
the reactions you had as a child to your traumatic experiences. We will
also discover how such experiences are affecting your life as an adult and
explore the ways you can change your negative beliefs and behaviors.
Aging:
Illness and Physical Disabilities - Including Difficulties with Help
Givers and 'The System':
I provide an understanding and caring of what you are going through and can
help you deal with your problems in the best way you can. I will support
you emotionally as you deal with the problems you face. I will help you
feel inner strength and a sense of deserving. I will help care givers
deal with your feelings of guilt. You will learn how much you can give and
still be able to live your own lives.
Addictions and Compulsions:
Alcohol, Drugs, Money Problems, Gambling, Games, and many others.
I will help those people who have decided they want to give up their
reliance on a substance or on other compulsive behaviors that hold them in a
life situation dwelling on problems, and who know they need help and support
in that process. Most people suffering from such dependencies don't realize
how and why they have taken on these compulsions. I can help you free
yourself.
Anger Problems (and Expressing any Emotions Appropriately):
Anger is a normal human emotion. You may find you feel angry more often
than you would like to and express anger in a way that upsets you and others
and causes problems in interpersonal relationships. We will work together
so you will find appropriate ways of expressing your anger.
Anxiety, Panic, Fear:
Many do not realize that Anxiety and Panic are both fear based. We can
discover what the unknown fears are. Such things are more knowable than
anyone ever imagines. As we work toward these goals, I can also teach you
ways to relax to soften your body and mind's reactions to the fears,
allowing you to release the fear reactions.
Becoming Your Authentic Self:
You may have thought of yourself as being the person your parents told you
that you were by the negative ways they talked to and treated you (even if
they also had positive ways to be with you.) As an adult you still may carry
those negative thoughts in your head, believing that's the person you are.
You may need to learn more of the positive qualities in you. In therapy you
will learn to unravel confused notions of who you are by discarding the
inauthentic negative ones and claiming the positive qualities. This process
is Becoming your Authentic Self.
Blame & Forgiveness:
Sometimes how you were treated in your past was so traumatic, you may decide
you do not want to forgive your parents. Most of you do not fall into that
category and you may feel you do not want to look at anything negative in
your past because it would mean you would be blaming your parents for your
current problems. It's positive to continue to keep good feelings about
your parents. However, if there are certain things from your past that
interfere in your present life, it's important our work allows you to let go
of old negative beliefs in order to take on positive ones. Then you can
forgive your parents for their part, knowing they 'did their best.'
Couples Counseling/Couples Therapy - Other Relationships:
I will help you change the ways you relate to and understand one another in
order to improve your relationship. Each will learn to be individually
heard and understood, respected and responded to by each other. We will work
to change the negative aspects of your relationship into positive ones. I
am supportive, non-judgmental and maintain an impartial approach in helping
each of you have the relationship you would like to have while still being
the individual you want to be.
Communications:
Problems Relating to People.
This includes work, family, partnership, marriage, children, colleagues and
friends. I provide safe reassuring, understanding and help in a relaxed
environment to explore and find new ways to overcome your problems in
relating.
Confused about your feelings:
You will learn how to identify and understand your feelings, get help
expressing and releasing them so you can move on with your life.
Creativity:
We all have a natural creativity. We will define the creativity in you and
find ways for it to be expressed, working to overcome any problems you feel
are in the way.
Criticism:
If you find yourself being critical or feeling you are being criticized, it
may be that you were criticized as a child and now expect to be criticized
by others or feel, when you are the one being critical, that, 'that's just
the way people talk' because of your childhood experiences. During our work
you will learn, if you are the critical one, to be aware of better ways of
interacting. If you often hear others being critical but aren't sure, you'll
learn to distinguish whether someone is actually criticizing you or not.
If you decide they really mean something other than criticism, you'll be
able to answer appropriately and if they are criticizing you, you'll decide
how to handle it appropriately.
Despondency or Depression - Hopelessness:
I have noticed over the years that once you start talking about these
feelings it's a big relief. If you find it hard to do what you want to do
or take action in your life, sleep a lot, find it hard to sleep, or feel
hopeless, then sympathetic understanding and positive help can make an
enormous difference in finding ways to overcome these intense feelings.
Many people suffering from these are thinking false thoughts and holding
false opinions about themselves. These can be clarified, released and
replaced with positive self esteem.
Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, Compulsive Overeating:
NOTE: See above under 'Addictions and Compulsions'.
People with Eating disorders often carry a sense of low self worth. You may
have a false image of your body and of who you are as a person. These come
from old negative messages about yourself. We will understand their source
and connect them to your compulsive eating behaviors. You will find that
you no longer feel a need to eat or withhold food in destructive ways.
Family - Friends - Colleagues: Problems:
We can work on problems emanating from the family you grew up in that are
still causing problems in your life now. We will define them, put them in
perspective and you can learn new ways of thinking, feeling and acting about
yourself and others.
Chronic Illness:
This can strike at any age. If you are an adult and deal with chronic
illness, there are many obstacles to overcome daily. We will work together
so you can set boundaries of what you can and can't do in order to take the
best care of yourself and to have the most fulfilled life you can.
Life Goals - Job Concerns - Career Obstacles:
I am a Certified Life Coach (1999)
We will define them and work together to find ways for you to move forward.
Losses:
Losses includes, among other things, the loss of a loved one, a pet, a job,
moving to a new house or area, a divorce or a break-up. I will help you deal with
what you are going through and support your decisions. Finally, I will show you
how you can move forward with hope and anticipation.
Obsessiveness:
Obsessive Behavior is a way of attempting to keep things in perfect order.
We will discover what the true tensions are and work towards relieving them.
We will also work on special relaxing exercises that relieve stress.
Post Traumatic Stress:
Service Members Returning from Battle
Other Highly Traumatic Reactions to Shocking Situations
Scary thoughts, dreams and memories may go through your head. You may try to
hide them from yourself but can't make them go away. I may use the therapeutic
approach of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) to help release
memories, also releasing the horror or fear of them. We will work at your own
pace. When you feel safe enough, you will be able to speak about the events
that caused you these problems and move toward recovery into a full and positive
life.
Procrastination: Feeling Stuck:
We will identify what it is that holds you back so you can be released from
it, allowing you to be free to do what it is you want to do when you want to
do it.
