Assisting individuals and families:My approach is a blend of humanistic, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness modalities. I believe each individual has unique emotional, biological, social, spiritual and developmental dimensions that must be considered in treatment. I believe there is wisdom behind all our actions, even those that hinder you. I will focus on helping you uncover that wisdom so that it can serve and support you. The healing process is facilitated in a collaborative therapeutic relationship of human kindness, feeling safe and being understood and respected. The solution-focused elements of my approach focuses on the client’s goals. I will assist you in clarifying and developing a “road map” in realizing your therapeutic goals, while building on success and strengths. Cognitive-behavioral methods stress the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. It is based on the belief that thoughts, rather than people or events, cause our negative feelings. In this process I assist clients to, identify, reality test, and modify dysfunctional beliefs underlying his or her thinking that may cause distressful feelings and behaviors. Finally, my emphasis on mindfulness means that we will often use what you are thinking and feeling in the present moment with non-judgmental attention and clarity. This deliberate act supports greater awareness of self and invites gentle acceptance of self that will then allow for the opportunity for exploration and healing. Though counter-intuitive, mindfulness based therapies have been shown to reduce distress and discomfort and enhance coping skills.