Sandpath Counseling
Achieve greater quality of life
with personalized psychotherapy
The Journey Begins...
Personal Growth
Learn how to work past the psychological obstacles holding you back from your full potential. Growth comes from adversity, and we can provide the tools to overcome anxiety and fear.
Healing
Emotional and psychological trauma can be deep-rooted and difficult to work through. Our techniques specialize in identifying and analyzing latent negative thought patterns and re-wiring your brain to help start the body’s natural healing processes.
Peace
Find balance in your life by promoting good mental health. Taking care of yourself is critical in bringing stability into your life, and we want to help you work through your obstacles and set you on your path to greater life satisfaction.
Our Approaches
Therapeutic Relationship
Most basic, in my rather eclectic therapeutic approach, is the importance of the client/therapist relationship, the alliance we form to move toward the relief, understanding and change you are hoping for. Knowledge of the brain and nervous system help to explain the importance of this. Our mirror neurons and brain chemicals related to attachment explain the attunement, the sense of connection that is a healing force in therapy. Studies say it is more important than the kind of therapy engaged in.
The Family Connection
Our exquisite human wiring for connection often results in relationship difficulties and problematic patterns. This not only includes families, but also work and peer groups. My certificate in Bowen Family Systems Therapy has provided me with a framework for understanding some of these difficulties, which are often generational patterns. While it may not be the focus of therapy, I like to develop at least a simple genogram for each client at the beginning of therapy.
Stories and Symbols
Of course, a human life does not consist solely of instinct-driven relationships and stress reactions. Awareness of past traumas and difficulties is important, but so is a focus on strengths, building emotional management skills and developing personalized solutions. We also have the capacity and need to develop our gifts, find meaning in our lives, express our true selves. I offer Narrative Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy and to meet those needs (see Modalities for descriptions).
Trauma-informed
Knowledge of trauma and its impacts on our nervous system through the stress response system and the attachment/bonding system also inform my approach. Trauma can include large events like abuse and, accidents and disasters, by also includes developmental and relationship trauma, and loss of all kinds. I am very aware of and interested in the connection between trauma and some illness/pain. Modalities I have trained in to specifically treat trauma include EMDR, Trauma-focused Narrative Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy (see Modalities for descriptions).
Skills
It is not always enough to understand problems and difficulties, sometimes we need to learn new skills to manage emotions and reduce stress. I suggest mindfulness, felt sense and guided imagery exercises. Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills are also offered when appropriate.
Planetary Context
And finally, I believe it must be acknowledged that we live in trying and uncertain times. Our challenges extend beyond ourselves and our families. Whether it is a novel coronavirus, or the next hurricane, or the plague of political division, we are stressed and often feel powerless. The world is changing. The fear of the future and the grief over what we have lost is real. I welcome discussion of these issues in therapy to seek a meaningful way forward for individuals and our human community.
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Reach out and start planning your
path to greater life satisfaction