Life's Challenges

There are times when we really do need someone to talk to.

If you feel stressed out, stuck in your career, your relationships, perhaps you're facing tough life challenges - or - you just find yourself unhappy with life and would like to regain your peace of mind, you need someone who will listen and understand. It's great if you have family or friends to meet these needs but if there's no one available, if the issue is complex or longstanding, or if there's a need to address sensitive topics, then seeing a professional is always a good place to start.

Children

Children present a variety of special needs as they grow and mature. It can be quite difficult to understand why children do what they do at times, and more difficult to know what to do to help. However, by gaining an understanding of why children are doing or feeling certain things, especially those that are outside of developmental norms, finding an approach to helping is easier.

There are therapeutic ways to listen and talk with children to really hear what they are telling themselves. This helps us find ways to aid in their development and facilitate healing.

Opportunity for Growth

There are times and events in our lives that are especially challenging: times of loss and change and times of transition and new beginnings. Marriage, divorce, re-marriage, childbirth, children growing up and leaving home, job beginnings, promotions, layoffs, illnesses of self and others, interpersonal conflicts, and struggles with substance use, are all common problems that lead people into therapy. These times bring a need for support and understanding. It is at these times that we can come to know ourselves more deeply, and in the best of circumstances, they become times of growth and integration.

Understanding Unconscious Patterns of Behavior

We all develop standards for our own behavior and actions. And we all find ourselves "misbehaving" at times. Sometimes it surprises us, and we feel rather out of control of our own selves. It is by increasing awareness of our selves that we develop the potential for better control over our behavior. Thoughts, feelings, and beliefs often arise in an unconscious manner thus leading to irrational behavior and decision-making. These unconscious thoughts can sabotage your capacity to realize your full potential. They can also manifest as chronic dysfunction in your family, social life, and career. Only when we are conscious of these forces can we truly exercise free choice. Finding the will and the strength to live those choices is the further challenge. A non-supportive , non-critical, and understanding therapist can facilitate this process and enable you to know your depths and integrate the self.

Why is it that you act certain ways or say certain things? What are the common threads, behaviors, and outcomes that weave so predictably in and out of your life? From where do they arise and how can you have more control over your actions and your life path? Depth psychology attempts to answer these questions. It encompasses and goes beyond cognitive and behavioral approaches, which reduce the mind to only thoughts and behaviors. It is a means of understanding the full depth of your self. It assumes that by making what had previously been unconscious - now conscious, a wider range of choices will be available to you regarding how you live your life, how you interact with others, and the decisions you make along the way.

Knowing Your "Self"

Emotions are a powerful force, that when guided well give us the passion and energy to carry out our will. If they are misguided, or uncontrolled, they can lead to disaster. Harnessing the power of the emotions is a very useful way to be more productive, and to stay on the right track.

Knowing yourself deeply, understanding yourself, and being understood, is the best investment in your future peace of mind.