EMPOWER offers engaging therapy tailored to your specific needs
Therapy is a unique arrangement that ideally involves a synergetic relationship between counselor and client while engaging in a conscious exploration into the client’s inner and outer worlds. When working with clients, I maintain a dual focus on process and contextual factors. I believe that if we want better answers we need to ask better questions.
How do we ask better questions? We start with an intention to look beyond our current perspective. We bring an open mind and a curious disposition. We focus on the past, the present, and the future self in context of both what we are currently experiencing and what we want to experience.
When I was in the School of Architecture at MSU, the first invaluable lesson I learned was to always look for the second right answer. And then the third.
The second lesson was equally as important: learn from your mistakes. Consider the choices, attitudes, and strategies that didn’t work and ask better questions. Then apply lesson number one, and repeat.
I am primarily an Emotionally Focused Therapist (EFT) working with couples of all relational constructs.
Certain fundamental principles seem to apply well to all those who want to increase a sense of security and intimacy in their relationships. For most of us, it is incredibly difficult to see the forest through the trees, let alone truly see the trees when we are afraid of being lost in the forest. I help clients zoom into the minute detail that illuminates the "i" in "loneliness" and "independence" as well as zoom out to understand how the relationship gets caught in negative patterns as we attempt to create connection and avoid disconnection.
I am also partial to Internal Family Systems (IFS) when working with individuals.
IFS is a powerful way to understand ourselves directly from the parts of us that need focus. It is also an excellent way to increase self awareness, self acceptance, and connection with our highest self. The process is reflective in nature and creates internal congruence.
Is sex a way to literally “make” love or simply “express” love that is already there?
Yes! We all have a relationship to our self sexually that precedes the one we have developed with others. In committed, exclusive relationships the pressure to be symbiotic is often immense because sex and sexual expression is such a fundamental part of our beings that whether we do or we don't—it really matters. It can be complicated to merge our unique personal sexuality into an erotic and intimate physical relationship with our partner. For many or us, it can be just as challenging to talk with our partner about our differences. I help couples expand their ability to engage in effective and productive conversations around their sexual interactions and experiences that fosters awareness, creates mutual acceptance, and promotes physical closeness.