Individual Therapy (adults or teens)

Pain and fear are often seen as a weakness. People keep the depths they go to hidden because “no one else seems to have such a hard time” – well, everyone does. It is a natural, crucial part of being human and of growing.  Difficult things (and disasters) that happen are part of life just the same as joy.  Life is messy and organic. Our struggles, if handled in a grounded and healthy way, are essential to creating a great and fulfilling life. It takes a great deal of strength and courage to allow yourself to experience pain and vulnerability.  You are only genuinely strong if you can learn to feel all the feelings in your natural cycle of emotions.  It is then that you are close to really knowing yourself. ​

 Knowing when and where to trust showing that vulnerability is key.  It should not be shared indiscriminately…your most private self is a privilege that only proven trusted people in our lives should see.  In that way your sensitivity becomes your strength.

One of the reasons therapists have a job at all is because of  a lot of us live in an isolated, compartmentalized way where only surface aspects of ourselves are shared or only the “positive” or success related things.  The rest of the whole picture is kept hidden.  So we have no true sense of what is normal.

This way of life is far from a village structure that we’re made for.  A life woven-together with others builds in an “other” focus that many never learn.  An isolated life can enable too much self-focus, which distorts and creates suffering.  Further, we are thrown into our own lives and relationships using habits and patterns we started out life with and sometimes we cannot see are leading to unnecessary and unproductive suffering.  That can all be changed. Sitting with an objective and seasoned observer can help you find, understand and change patterns that keep you from life experiences you long for. Therapy is a brave and rewarding work to take on.