Every therapist out there has some school of thought, some collection of beliefs, ideals, theories and experience that helps to define them as a therapist. I am no different. We are all drawn to theories and practices that somehow intrigue us or reflect our most inner belief system. It is important to understand the beliefs that your therapist holds so that you are aware of their underlying motives. As a smart consumer, it is your responsibility to locate a therapist that meets your needs and expectations. Sometimes, the best therapist is one that has similar beliefs to you, other times, it is the exact opposite. Below is an outline of my beliefs and approach to counseling. You may read over this description and fall in love with my approach. You may quickly move on to the next therapist. I will not be offended either way because I am not here to sell you on a "miracle cure" or "the one" approach. I understand whole heartedly that for you to get anything from our time together, we must be a good fit.
Relationships Only
I work to build, maintain, and repair lasting relationships. One might think that is limited to romantic relationships. It is true, the majority of my clients are couples. However, I also work with the relationships within family units (e.g., parents/children). I also work with individuals - whether the goal is working on their relationships with others, with substances, with work, etc, or even in your relationship with yourself.
Many therapists claim to be couples or family therapists. The fact is that even being licensed as a Marriage and Family therapist doesn't mean someone has experience with couples. The truth is that there are a multitude of 'do it all therapists' that advertise experience in a broad range of topics. Not me. I have spent my entire education and the majority of my career honing my expertise in couples and relationships. That is all I do now. While I stay up-to-date and informed in a variety of issues and concerns, I specialize in working with couples and family units.
One at a Time
In fact, within my Private Retreats, I only work with one couple or family at a time. What this means is that I am not distracted by a case load of 8 other
clients today. The only file (mental file or case file) that I have open is
yours. I am able to devote my entire thought process on you and your
relationship. When you are with me, rest assured that I am not concerned
about my 5pm appointment that is difficult to relate to, or the teenager that won't
open up. I am not concerned on how to facilitate another couple's separation
and not distracted by my client overcoming addictions. My only concern is
you.
Solution Focused
I have always been optimistic and typically seek to find the good in any
situation. I believe that there is good, in everything, and it is my job to
help you to see it when you cannot. This does not mean that I am oblivious
or ignore negative things; I do not sugar coat simply to make you feel
better. I do, however, see many different paths and seek to find one that
gets you through the muck and to a better place.
I truly believe that if you have been in a relationship for any length of
time, then that means that something works. Perhaps it has been
years since it felt like it worked, but the truth is that your relationship
has worked, and it could again. My goal in part is to go through time and
identify when you were both at your best and find ways to get back to it. I
am not here to mold you into the "perfect couple" - the misguided belief
that all relationships have to look the same. Rather, I seek to empower you
to be the best relationship that you can be.
Strength Based
You are an amazing person. So is your partner. Your relationship has likely
been amazing at times, too. This is because you each are very unique. You
were attracted to certain qualities in each other, likely these qualities
were personal strengths. I strive to identify your strengths: what comes
naturally to you, what you are good at, what makes you you. I want to then
enhance those strengths and empower you to become the best version of you
that is possible. I am not here to reinvent the wheel or make you be a
"Stepford." I simply want to support you in your transcendence.
Authenticity
I strive to be authentically be myself and I want you to also feel like you can be yourself (when working with me and in your daily life). This means that partners also must focus on unconditional acceptance of each other - that is, loving each other because of the quirks, differences, and perceived flaws. We must be ok with ourselves and our partner before we can seek change. Additionally, I will never ask you to do something that I haven't or that I don't believe in myself. I use all the stuff that I teach. My wife and I have worked with John & Julie Gottman. In fact, my wife is the one that often keeps me accountable!
Science Based
My mind works in two ways: the dreamer, and the scientist. The scientist in
me thrives on research and evidence based work. It grounds me in the black
and white (literature, results, proof). Because of that, I was quickly drawn
to the Gottman Method. Based on over 40 years of research with multiple
studies and over 3000 couples, John Gottman strived to identify what makes
master couples - those that survive together. He was among the first to
research what worked in happy couples, versus what failed. Based on his
years of research, Dr. Gottman has been able to predict how a relationship
will fair with a
94% accuracy. His
research and publications
are numerous, respect of his peers is paramount. Now pair Dr. John Gottman
with his wife, Dr. Julie Gottman, and you create a powerhouse of science and
practice: they have created a scientifically based approach to couples
therapy that works.
How the World Works
The very foundation of how I see the world can be labeled as a
Constructivist. What this means, is that I believe each one of us builds (or
constructs - think construction worker) our reality. This is based in part
from our childhood and our parents - but also largely in part to our
experiences, past relationships, etc. There is a definite balance of nature
vs. nurture. What this means is that no two people can see the same thing
happen and experience it the same way.
Take for instance being colorblind. If I am colorblind, I will experience
the sky and the sun differently than you. We will have similar experiences -
the sun feels warm - but how we see the world is different. You can never
see the world through my eyes, but if you can understand, appreciate, and be
curious about how I see things, then we can have a shared
experience.
This is what I want for your relationship - to experience something great,
although different. Respect and admire the way your partner sees things
while not losing the way you view the world. Balance. Curiosity (more on
this in a moment). Respect.
In addition to being a constructivist, I am also systemic. In short, this
means that I believe that everything is connected. The steak dinner you
both share will taste different to you both - had a bad day at work, maybe
the steak tastes bitter (because you are still affected by work) or maybe it
tastes amazing (because you are finally done with that big project).
Everything is connected in some way.
The Secret
If I could sum up what I see in happy and strong couples into one word, it
would be curiosity. When you first met your partner, you talked about random (sometimes
absolutely pointless) things. But you were on the edge of your seat because
you were curious about the person sitting next to you, and how they saw the
world. Fast forward a few years, now you feel like you know your partner
well. You can predict their response to certain things, and it starts to
become mundane. You stop asking questions, at least you stop asking with the
undivided attention as when you first got together. It doesn't have to be
that way. Put the phone down. Take a true 10 minute break from work or
chores. Let the dirty dishes pile up after dinner. Talk with curiosity
again. Getting you back to that point is where I come in.
My Ideal Client
The couple that I prefer to work with is one that realizes that neither one
of you is my client. Rather, the third 'person' on the proverbial couch is
my ultimate client: the couple. While I will respect you both
individually and seek to empower you both, my ultimate goal is to make the
couple the best possible couple it can be. This means that you are both
aware of not only yourself, but the other person. Before you complain about
something, I wonder if you can see your partner's perspective. Do you do
what makes you feel better, or do you do what makes the couple better?
Believe it or not, there is a difference. That difference falls in empathy -
simply put - "the ability to understand and identify the thoughts and
feelings of your partner." It is more than that though, it is also the
appreciation you have for what your partner sees and the ability to put your
their needs equal to yours.
The End
In the end, choosing a therapist can be a daunting task. I try to be as
transparent as possible to help you find the right fit. This is also why I
offer free consultations to give you a chance to get to know me more
before you spend a dime. Couples counseling, especially retreats, can be
expensive, make no mistake. If you look at it as an investment into your
future, then that cost might start to be more valid. You put away into your
retirement plan, your life insurance, but have you invested into your
relationship?
If you would like to know more about my education and background, you can do so here.