THERAPY SERVICES
I work with issues such as anxiety, loss of meaning, depression, trauma, substance abuse, relationships, grief, ADD and ADHD. The following is my perspective on working with the three common presenting issues, Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma.
ANXIETY
Anxiety is normal and plays a role in our life. It lets us know that life is uncertain and there exists the possibility of something good or bad happening. Anxiety can also become very difficult and uncomfortable to live with. Sometimes even debilitating. We learn to stay where we are or not speak up so as to avoid feeling anxious.
Facing anxiety in the present can help. To learn why your body is signaling a shortness of breath or elevated heart rate. What’s it telling us? An easier or more productive relationship with anxiety is possible.
DEPRESSION
Depression is also a normal reaction to life. There’s a number of reasons you might feel depressed, as well as a number of different kinds of depression. Regardless of the reasons, there generally exists a feeling that things don’t matter. Why bother? Anyone whose experienced it knows it’s a serious condition.
Therapy is a good place to find ways to cope, as well as search for meaning. To find hope for the future, which shapes choices in the present.
TRAUMA
Trauma comes about from the process of being filled with fear, while feeling powerless to stop what’s causing the fear. It can range from car accidents, to assaults, to war zone experiences, to experiences in the work place, or any number of situations. People become stuck in the moment. Not so much remembering it, as reliving it, which tends to be an isolating and disruptive experience.
Simply being understood and heard, can start the process of overcoming the isolation and healing. That being said, reclaiming power is also important, which means it’s your choice whether you want to talk directly about the traumatic experiences or not. Reclaiming power can be about overcoming the symptoms or just moving forward in life.