You thought you did everything right. But you still aren’t happy, not even close. Life has become exhausting and unsatisfying, and old, painful memories suddenly feel new. It’s been months of numbness, stagnation, and, at times, panic. Advice from well-meaning friends and family just isn’t cutting it, because you don’t need someone to tell you what to do. You just want to create a new way to live.
Q: I’ve been in therapy before and I felt like I was paying a stranger to vent. Do you actually do anything besides listen?
A: Yes! I know “vent sessions” will not help you reach your goals. Using Chairwork, I’ll set up a dialogue for you to speak directly to what’s bothering you. You’ll be able to identify the deeper issues going on and begin to explore what you want to do about it!
Q: I am pretty self-aware and I understand how my past gets in the way of my present life. Can you help me figure out what to do next?
A: I am accustomed to working with people who already have a lot of self-awareness. Using the knowledge you have as a guide, I will work with you to work on any stuck points and lay the foundation for sustainable shifts.
Q: I am concerned that talking about my past will just make me feel worse. If I open up, what happens next?
A: It’s understandable to feel worry about sharing difficult memories. Before we dive into difficult memories, I will talk with you about the general model I use and what you can expect. We will go over any questions and concerns you have, and I will not pressure you to do anything you aren’t ready to do.
Q: I already know that I have some irrational thoughts that just make me feel more anxious. Do you do anything else besides point out this obvious cycle?
A: Absolutely. When we’re anxious, we get stuck in never ending loops in our heads. We’ll use Chairwork to give voice to your thoughts and to give voice to new, healthy thoughts so that you can get more comfortable with them as they get stronger. No more internal battles!
Q: I’ve been depressed for a really long time. I don’t want to spend hours talking about how sad I am. How is working with you going to change anything?
A: Depression makes us believe that things will never be different or better. Using Chairwork, I will encourage you to energetically give voice to your feelings and get more in touch with them. I’ve found that this can be very effective for people who are feeling stuck.
Q: I don’t want to be in therapy forever. I just want to get ahold of things and move on with my life. Can you guarantee that I won’t be stuck in therapy for years and years?
A: Everyone’s therapeutic journey is different and I can’t guarantee any specific timeline. As a therapist, my overall goal is that one day you’ll be feeling so confident that you won’t need to see me again!
Q: I want to start getting results ASAP. Are you going to make me spend lots of time catching you up on my entire life and childhood before we begin addressing my goals and concerns?
A: If you are reaching out to start therapy, odds are that you have been struggling for a while. I understand that relief is really important! Doing Chairwork frees me up from needing to know every detail about your life, and important breakthroughs can happen without me having to “connect the dots” myself. That means if you’re ready, you absolutely CAN reach your goals more quickly than you may have thought possible.