My Philosophy

Over the course of our lives we encounter a variety of problems. Some problems will be small and some may be overwhelming. These problems can interfere with our ability to live our values, develop mutually beneficial relationships, and make our contribution to the community at large. These life problems may have a biological origin, originate in our families, come from our social-cultural circumstances, or be part of the human condition itself.

Confidential counsel has a timeless tradition.
Psychotherapy is our era's approach to giving people a sacred place in which to explore the inner and outer forces that disturb them. As in times past, such exploration and reflection often leads to a personal transformation.

Problems in living are accepted, values are committed to, and action is taken to live those values. Being transformed, persons return to their everyday lives with a new sense of significance in their own life and those of others.

My view is that we are intended to flourish, to contribute our best selves in the service of others.

All too often the problems of living lead us to develop a mistaken way of living that distorts our natural strivings for significance. This distortion leads us to feel cut off from others and ourselves. Our strivings become focused on possessing security and power as we come to believe that we are alone in a hostile, uncaring world.

As a result, our capacity to use our security and power for mutual benefit and encouragement is undeveloped. This is understandable as our undeveloped creative power is the result of the complex interaction between our bodies, our upbringing, and our culture.

Currently, the preferred "treatments" for this distortion of our natural strivings are biomedical and problem focused therapies.

Medication and targeted interventions are hoped to work in the shortest amount of time possible are used. Any sign of temporary relief is seen as a therapeutic success and the person is discharged from active treatment. If psychotherapists move people from a -4 on a mental health scale to a -8 or even 0, we have not truly helped.

Symptoms and conflicts may have abated but the person has traded neurotic symptoms for existential symptoms of meaninglessness, aimlessness, and a feeling of emptiness. They may still feel as if they do not belong and their strivings are likely to still be exclusively oriented toward themselves.

Could it be that our problems, our neuroses, are a failure to evolve into the persons we were intended to become?

This view does not preclude the use of medication or clinical psychotherapy. I will often refer clients for medication and use clinical psychotherapeutics in my work.

But, just perhaps, it is possible to help people help themselves to strive beyond a 0-point to a more positive place, maybe even a +10-point.

Psychotherapy can invite a person to consider a process of self-renewal that lasts a life time.

Psychotherapy can invite a person to consider a process of self-renewal that lasts a life time. Psychotherapy can encourage people to feel courageous and sustain their values even in the face of adversities, symptoms, illness, traumas, social problems, and the full catastrophe of being a human being. Psychotherapy can also help people to savor the positive moments of living: the accomplishments, the love that comes from harmonious family life, the deep bonds of friendship, the joy of a solid day of meaningful work, and the sense of belonging that comes from contributing, even in a small way, to the human community.

Such an undertaking is not a quick fix. In fact, psychotherapy can only be a part of this journey. However, it can be an encouraging step on the road to becoming your best self.

If my vision of psychotherapy has appeal to you please contact me and we can discuss the possibility of an appointment.