How Therapy Works

We all develop coping mechanisms.

From a young age, we tend to manage our feelings in three ways: Suppression/Repression is when we stuff things away, put them to the side and try to avoid them altogether. Expression often manifests itself as anger and frustration toward those around us. And Escape includes substance abuse, compulsive habits, and unhealthy patterns of behavior.

Each of us carries around an accumulation of negative thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about ourselves all the time. When something occurs that seems to reinforce these beliefs, we’ll frequently react to that emotion rather than what’s actually happening at the moment.

As a result, we face a great deal of unnecessary stress, anxiety, and loneliness, making us feel disconnected from ourselves and others.

Over the years, a significant amount of “muck” has built up.

This muck interferes with our ability to see ourselves and the world around us clearly. We lose trust in our perceptions since we see everything through this distorted, mucked-up lens.

It interferes with our ability to be our authentic selves and often makes relationships, work, and life, in general, more challenging than they need to be.

What therapy can do is help clear that muck out. Using the four levels of change, we will begin to clear that muck slowly, but surely, layer by layer so that you see more clearly who you are and connect more deeply with others.

Let’s work together to see more clearly.

Because everyone’s issues are unique, the pace, intensity, and details of clearing that muck are also unique.

It starts with a collaborative and trusting relationship with your therapist. Feeling like you can be authentic and honestly share your thoughts and feelings is critical to making progress.

But it’s not just sharing or talking. Therapy is also work. In addition to feeling, noticing, and recognizing, therapy is about taking small but meaningful steps toward the change you want. While, finally, showing yourself the compassion to heal.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change.”
— Carl Rogers, American Psychologist