Individual Talk Therapy

Is this all there is?

In the morning, you drag yourself out of bed with a vague sense of dread. Nothing terrible has happened, but nothing good seems on the horizon.

Your day is an endless list of mind-numbing tasks that you complete joylessly, automatically. Usually, they are thankless chores that make someone else’s life easier, not yours.

At night, you’re too tired to sleep. Anxious thoughts, simmering anger, and self-recrimination are your bedtime companions. It feels too selfish to say out loud – other people have it so much worse. But still…

You want more.

More from your relationships. You want to feel less disconnected. You want to stop silencing your voice regarding your own needs. You’re not a doormat! You want to feel like you matter.

More from your career. Career? That’s a laugh-and-a-half when you’re punching a clock just to pay the bills.

More from yourself. You thought you’d be further along at this point in life. Where? How? You had so many dreams when you were younger, that you can barely remember. What happened to them? And how can you get from where you are right now to the life you know you were meant to have?

I believe you know the answer. Sometimes it’s hard to see. It’s buried beneath…

Decades of messages about what you should and should not want.

The story you’ve been telling yourself about what you are and aren’t capable of.

The hectic pace of life that leaves you no time for thinking, perspective, or even basic reflection.

Therapy can help.

Therapy is all about you. It’s always your turn to talk. Therapy is your sacred hour to say exactly what you need to say. You can vent, cry, and complain without judgment or interruption.

See, you might call it ranting – but to me, it’s a way for us to uncover valuable evidence. It will point us to areas of life that are crying out for your attention. Old hurts that are holding you back. Dreams so dear to you, yet so seemingly out of reach, that you can only talk about them in terms of guilt, blame, envy, and regret.

All the things you promised yourself you’d do but didn’t!

Believe it or not, this is your therapeutic journey taking form. Like childbirth, this is the messy part.

While you’re talking, I’ll be listening.

Completely. Without distraction. No checking cell phones. When was the last time you had someone’s complete attention? When was the last time someone was completely focused on YOU?

This focus will feel weird at first. But soon, my listening will remind you that your thoughts are important. I listen not just as a therapist but as a writer. I pay attention to all the words you say. My clients are often surprised by the details I remember. They’re even more surprised to discover they’ve mentioned them more than once!

Every once and a while, I might gently interject –

To ask for more information.

To remind you of something you mentioned last week.

To help you recognize patterns.

To point out places where you are unnecessarily hard on yourself.

To call your attention to things that you become passionate about when you speak – you never realized!

This is how we make new connections and help you find meaningful directions in your life. This is the therapeutic process.

Together, we will make an individualized plan to address the underlying factors driving your pain, anxiety, and numbness.

It won’t always be easy. I will hold you accountable for taking the steps necessary to bring about the change you want. But we both know you’re not afraid of work. And you will have a friend for the journey. I’m always on your side, even when nudging you forward.

Over time, through our work together…

You’ll learn how to draw effective boundaries without guilt. Your relationships will feel more fulfilling and equal. Your self-esteem will become less dependent on the approval of others. No more doormat!

Your inner voice will become more compassionate and constructive. You’ll move past old hurts and feel lighter. You won’t miss the baggage!

You’ll gain a healthier perspective on your life and be able to push through in the face of frustration.

You will gain mindfulness strategies to help reduce anxious thoughts and bedtime rumination sessions. Better sleep leads to better mornings – and better days ahead.

You will rediscover old passions and uncover new ones. We will draw upon these passions to create a solid plan for your future, full of things that matter to you.

You will develop a better relationship with others and yourself as you step into a future full of possibilities.

What are you waiting for? I’m waiting to listen.