My Approach to Counseling

There is not a one-size fits all approach to counseling. Instead, I combine and utilize different elements of different counseling approaches to help you reach your goals. Although I draw from many different theories and approaches, my favorites are cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Since I lean most heavily on these, I’ll provide a little bit of information about each.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an approach that involves examining distortions in our thinking that might be contributing to our problems, and finding strategies to restructure our thinking. There is a lot of research to support cognitive behavioral therapy as being a highly effective form of treatment for a wide variety of issues. Since it is so well-researched, I love being able to help people find hope that they will be able to benefit from counseling just like others have in the past.

Motivational interviewing is an approach that involves resolving ambivalence about change through clarifying values and reflecting on the benefits of change. All of this is done in the context of a supportive relationship, and the result is enhanced motivation. This approach is a lot different than a confrontive, authoritarian style, and that is why I like it. No one likes to be forced or bullied to change – we want to be supported to make choices we truly and deeply already want to make for ourselves.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an approach that is largely used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The goal of this approach is to help a person find ways to meet their goals even if anxiety is present. This is accomplished by learning how to tolerate some of the distress of anxiety while finding the motivation to pursue goals by clarifying the importance of these to the person. I like this approach because it does not see the end goal as simply symptom reduction, but rather living out values.