Philosophy and Approach to Counseling
My objective in counseling is to use my experience and training to equip my clients to (a) understand and (b) cope with individual and family issues. I believe that all individuals experience difficult situations in life, and that each of us has potential to make positive changes in outlook, interpersonal functioning, and lifestyle behaviors as we see fit to do so. My role as therapist is to assist clients in that process. My work can best be described as follows:
I believe that early childhood experiences are crucial in shaping a person’s life, and that the present is best understood in the context of that history. However, although a client’s history is very important, present functioning is usually what prompts the desire for counseling. This means that in addition to identifying significant factors from the past, present patterns of communication, emotional and behavior management (including stress and anger management), and interpersonal relational dynamics are most often the focus of our therapeutic attention.
Because I think holistically, I also encourage a client to look carefully at his/her physical and spiritual functioning as well. Although I must acknowledge that, as an individual, I enter the therapeutic relationship with an established set of social and spiritual values, my intention is to honor the values the client brings, and I encourage clients to explore the underlying beliefs that shape their lives.
Currently, I work with both individuals and family units to treat such difficulties as anxiety, depression, family conflicts, and adjustment to a wide variety of life and relationship stressors. Work with parents consists in providing information about the child’s developmental needs, and coaching parents as they hone their communication, behavior management, and emotional management skills. Recognizing the powerful negative influences of our culture and times, as addictions counselor, I help clients explore the antecedents and impact of substance abuse or other addictive behaviors on their lives; together we explore ways to function optimally without addictions. As a play therapist, I help children explore and resolve such issues as trauma, anxiety, and social problems, as well as helping parents learn the subtle skills that can enable them to more effectively counsel their own children. I also find it helpful to use EMDR, particularly as a way of resolving trauma.
EMDR
EMDR is often used to resolve both the large, significant traumas that are easily identified and the smaller traumas that can be pushed out of conscious thought, but disturb one’s peace of mind, nonetheless. EMDR is also helpful in generating inner confidence that an individual can successfully resolve life problems. This protocol is used by the armed forces as well as by many, many therapists in the treatment of trauma.
For further info see the EMDR - Francine Shapiro web site: www.emdr.com