As my client, you will never hear me say “I know exactly how you feel,” or many other classic therapists’ lines. The fact is, anyone who tells you this is not being totally honest. I will be the first to admit that I have likely never personally experienced many of the situations you will present in sessions; therefore, I would have no way of understanding exactly how you feel about it. Even if I have been through something similar, everyone processes certain life events differently and no two are the same. So again, I do not have a magic ability to automatically see into to your intricate emotions about the things that have occurred in your life. However, this realization is what leads to what I believe is one of the most beneficial aspects of our therapeutic journey; teaching you to help yourself.
Another line you will not hear me say is “if I were in your shoes.” Each person is unique... and we all think, feel, and act differently. Although, I can honestly say that I truly enjoy trying to understand how my clients are feeling about the problems they describe to me. I try my best to relate in any way possible so that I can give another outlook on your circumstances. I have also become skilled at identifying many other possible perspectives concerning your situation. None of us always have the right answer; therefore, it is in our best interest to use every resource available to us, even if that means adopting another point of view at times. Once you and I understand the problem more completely from several viewpoints, we can use our combined efforts to work towards an achievable solution.
Clients have often described me as “easy going, non-judgmental, and easy to get along with.” I do not claim to know everything and I am not afraid to admit when I am unsure about something. However, if I do not know the answer, I will put the maximum effort into finding it before our next session. My ultimate goal is to provide clients with a safe place to work through and eventually overcome the difficulties, large or small, they are currently experiencing. It is always an honor to serve as the therapist you chose to help improve your life; a calling which I truly enjoy.
I am also an LPCS, so I offer supervision hours in group and individual format to LPC-Associates