Questions answered about my approach to therapy ...
Q: How often will we meet and how long will I need to come to therapy?
Everyone is different however initially, we will meet once per week. Weekly sessions are especially important to start as we build a genuine relationship, consider what may be most helpful for you and create a plan together. Most sessions are 50 minutes unless other arrangements are discussed. We will move toward having less frequent sessions and ultimately we will not meet when you meet and sustain your goals. Some people meet for 5-7 sessions doing focused work and others meet for longer doing more in-depth work. I encourage you to discuss your hopes and expectations with me and remember you can stop at any time. My services are not appropriate for people that may need frequent contact between sessions or experiencing a mental health crisis where safety is at risk. Because this may require more attention and immediate response, I could share referrals.
Q: What makes your practice different?
Although Be Love Community Counseling is a private practice, I am community based-therapist. I seek to maintain flexibility to best meet the unique needs of the people I serve within the community. When working with an individual, I acknowledge that their community and environment is an important part of their well-being. When appropriate and I have the permission of the person I'm serving, sessions may take place outside of the office. For example, is not unusual for me to meet in natural settings as there is great healing power in nature. I also may have home visits when necessary to meet with the family of the person I'm working with and gather information about their natural environment. To increase accessibility and convenience of sessions, therapy may take place online when appropriate.
Q: What do you mean by culturally sensitive? Why is this important for therapy?
I acknowledge that although we share the oneness of humanity, people are diverse in more ways that one. I consider race, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, mental and physical diversity, age, religious/spiritual diversity, economic status etc. I play close attention to you as an individual and the many factors that may shape your experience. Rather than making assumptions about you and asserting that I am competent in your culture based on my own experiences or reading books or attending trainings, I come to know you through our interaction and experience together.
I acknowledge that certain groups of people have been discriminated against historically, presently and anyone can have experiences that impact their health, well being and sense of self. While one may be seeking therapy because they are feeling depressed or anxious and having behaviors that display these symptoms, without acknowledging culture we would be ignoring innate strengths, resilience and solutions.
I identify with multiple cultures that have shaped my view of the world and practice of therapy. I am open to sharing this with the people I serve because for many people it's beneficial to have a therapist with cultures and values that are congruent with their own. Although it is impossible for me to be congruent with each and every culture that people may identify with, I value doing my own homework so people don't cary the burden on educating the therapist of their cultural history. I of course stay open what you are moved to share directly about your lineage and experience. I strive to be culturally sensitive, acknowledging and honoring differences. Respecting and learning about your world view is critical as it has shapes experience in the world and therapy session.
Q: What's your orientation, modality or style of therapy?
Through working in community based mental health organizations and strengthening clinical skills with each person I work with, I had the opportunity to develop "eclectic" skills. I experienced a variety of specialized trainings and have an ongoing interest in learning and utilizing, "what works" for individuals and families I serve, but my worldview is African Centered. This includes paying attention to one's culture, exploring the impact of social systems, history. African Centered Psychology acknowledges spirtness and suggests that one can be free despite external conditions and we are interconnected, we impact each other. Other styles and modalities I may integrate include:
• Art
• Attachment-based
• Brainspotting
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Cross-Cultural
• Eco-psychotherapy
• Ego State Therapy - Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Family systems
• Humanistic
• Hypnosis
• InterPlay
• Liberation Psychology
• Mindfulness
• Narrative
• Play
• Psychodynamic
• Sand tray
• Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
• Spiritual
• Trauma-informed
Pablo Neruda said and I agree that "we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence, to find that enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song. But in that dance, and in that song, the most ancient rites of our conscience fulfill themselves in the awareness of being human."
Everyone is different however initially, we will meet once per week. Weekly sessions are especially important to start as we build a genuine relationship, consider what may be most helpful for you and create a plan together. Most sessions are 50 minutes unless other arrangements are discussed. We will move toward having less frequent sessions and ultimately we will not meet when you meet and sustain your goals. Some people meet for 5-7 sessions doing focused work and others meet for longer doing more in-depth work. I encourage you to discuss your hopes and expectations with me and remember you can stop at any time. My services are not appropriate for people that may need frequent contact between sessions or experiencing a mental health crisis where safety is at risk. Because this may require more attention and immediate response, I could share referrals.
Q: What makes your practice different?
Although Be Love Community Counseling is a private practice, I am community based-therapist. I seek to maintain flexibility to best meet the unique needs of the people I serve within the community. When working with an individual, I acknowledge that their community and environment is an important part of their well-being. When appropriate and I have the permission of the person I'm serving, sessions may take place outside of the office. For example, is not unusual for me to meet in natural settings as there is great healing power in nature. I also may have home visits when necessary to meet with the family of the person I'm working with and gather information about their natural environment. To increase accessibility and convenience of sessions, therapy may take place online when appropriate.
Q: What do you mean by culturally sensitive? Why is this important for therapy?
I acknowledge that although we share the oneness of humanity, people are diverse in more ways that one. I consider race, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, mental and physical diversity, age, religious/spiritual diversity, economic status etc. I play close attention to you as an individual and the many factors that may shape your experience. Rather than making assumptions about you and asserting that I am competent in your culture based on my own experiences or reading books or attending trainings, I come to know you through our interaction and experience together.
I acknowledge that certain groups of people have been discriminated against historically, presently and anyone can have experiences that impact their health, well being and sense of self. While one may be seeking therapy because they are feeling depressed or anxious and having behaviors that display these symptoms, without acknowledging culture we would be ignoring innate strengths, resilience and solutions.
I identify with multiple cultures that have shaped my view of the world and practice of therapy. I am open to sharing this with the people I serve because for many people it's beneficial to have a therapist with cultures and values that are congruent with their own. Although it is impossible for me to be congruent with each and every culture that people may identify with, I value doing my own homework so people don't cary the burden on educating the therapist of their cultural history. I of course stay open what you are moved to share directly about your lineage and experience. I strive to be culturally sensitive, acknowledging and honoring differences. Respecting and learning about your world view is critical as it has shapes experience in the world and therapy session.
Q: What's your orientation, modality or style of therapy?
Through working in community based mental health organizations and strengthening clinical skills with each person I work with, I had the opportunity to develop "eclectic" skills. I experienced a variety of specialized trainings and have an ongoing interest in learning and utilizing, "what works" for individuals and families I serve, but my worldview is African Centered. This includes paying attention to one's culture, exploring the impact of social systems, history. African Centered Psychology acknowledges spirtness and suggests that one can be free despite external conditions and we are interconnected, we impact each other. Other styles and modalities I may integrate include:
• Art
• Attachment-based
• Brainspotting
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Cross-Cultural
• Eco-psychotherapy
• Ego State Therapy - Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Family systems
• Humanistic
• Hypnosis
• InterPlay
• Liberation Psychology
• Mindfulness
• Narrative
• Play
• Psychodynamic
• Sand tray
• Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
• Spiritual
• Trauma-informed
Pablo Neruda said and I agree that "we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence, to find that enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song. But in that dance, and in that song, the most ancient rites of our conscience fulfill themselves in the awareness of being human."