Clinical Counseling

While visiting Canada several years ago, I was impressed with the ingenuity and creativity that went into growing grapes. Growing grapes for the harvest demands many things, yet a few staples include a healthy root system to provide nutrients, a trellis' to maximize productiveness, pruning to encourage growth in the right areas, protection from wildlife, and most importantly, a context or environment that grapes can thrive in. My approach to clinical counseling is similar...

The Roots

Humans need to pay attention their root systems. Root systems are represented by the historical realities that have provided us with nutrients or the lack thereof. Exploring the unseen realities of a person's life and how they may be contributing to maladaptive ways of being and doing are important. This is where trauma factors in for many of my clients. Trauma can be buried deep underground providing unwanted and anxious energy or deep reservoirs of sadness for no apparent reason. Addressing one's root system may involve exploring past events and/or relationships that have shapes us and our approach to life. What makes this even more complicated is that these experiences often come at the hand of those that love us making it all the more complicated to address. Guilt and shame can abound.

The Fruits

For many, there are no obvious traumas or inner wounds that need healing. Rather, you may simply need to learn new ways of being and doing in the present. Like pruning grapevines, we often need to learn how to maximize emotional and mental resources to be more productive in the settings and relationships that matter most. And, like the trellis, some need to find better ways to integrate structure into their lives and relationships which can be done by learning new skills that will enhance effectiveness. This may look like relationship and communication skills training or learning to set healthy boundaries. Another lesson learned from the grapevine is that grapes thrive in healthy environments. Humans do as well. This may include altering your perspective on your environment to be more based in reality or altering your environment to lessen the effects of unhealthy and unproductive stressors. For these types of problems we may use goal setting techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address distortions in perspective or even Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy to formulate new beliefs about oneself, the world, or even God.

In the end, learning to be attentive to what has been shaping ones inner world (roots), as well as what is growing in our lives through our actions and agency (fruits) both need attention to address healing and health.

Clinical Counseling rates are as follows: Individuals $110 (50 minute session) and $170 for Couples (80 minute session).