Could you benefit from some extra support?
Perhaps you are facing relationship issues, a breakup, divorce and need an outside perspective?
Or maybe you’re going through a challenging transition (a move, job change, etc.)?
Have you been stuck in a pattern that isn't working anymore and wonder how to break free?
Do you want to create positive change in your life but struggle with setting and achieving goals?
Are you feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or burned out and want to regain a sense of balance and joy in your life?
Do you struggle with perfectionism, self-esteem, or a strong inner critic?
Perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed in general and want to find a better way to manage everything?
Or maybe you’re feeling like you lost your way in life and the path you’re on is no longer satisfying?
Our culture often sends the message that we should stand strong and be completely independent, never showing anyone our pain. But there are times in everyone’s life when they need the support of others. In Paul Simon’s famous song, I am a Rock, he proudly states that “A rock feels no pain, and an island never cries”. But what he leaves out is that a rock also feels no joy, and an island feels no love or connection. Without these precious treasures, life can seem pretty bleak.
If you are feeling alone in your pain right now, like no one understands or cares what you’re going through, I know how isolating that can be. Or if you know you want something to change, but you don’t know where to begin, you are in the right place.
Everyone struggles sometimes
If you are going through a rough patch, I know how difficult it can be to try and weather that alone. If we are to believe the Facebook version of everyone’s lives, then the majority of Americans are happy individuals who spend their days eating beautiful meals, drinking designer coffee, going on amazing adventures, and getting along harmoniously with their loved ones. Quite frankly, I call B.S.!
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 Americans will struggle with a mental illness in any given year. That’s 43.8 million adults each year. And if you add in all the people affected by the increasingly stressful lifestyle that we life, the numbers get a whole lot higher. According to the American Institute of Stress, approximately 3/4 of all Americans report regularly experiencing physical and/or psychological symptoms caused by stress. But most people don’t put that on social media. We hide it away and suffer quietly, thinking we are the only ones. But you’re not. And you don’t have to go it alone. The good news is that with the help of an experienced professional, you can quickly start getting your life back on track.
Individual Therapy and Coaching can help
I have helped many clients navigate difficult transitions, unexpected changes, and shift patterns that were no longer working for them.
What if you could…
Stop feeling stuck in old patterns
Move through life with a sense of ease and confidence
Balance competing demands for your time so that you have time and energy left for YOU!
Calm your busy mind or inner critic and find peace
Reconnect with a sense of joy and meaning again
My SPECIALTIES
I offer psychotherapy and coaching designed to help you get unstuck from old patterns and move forward in your life. While I have experience in many areas, I specialize in therapy and coaching for:
Anxiety Relief - helping you stop worrying and start feeling more at ease in your life
Depression Treatment - getting you out of the dark hole and back to looking forward to your days again
Stress Management - helping you learn effective strategies for managing stress and creating balance in your life
Life Coaching - helping you create a satisfying life and meaningful career when things feel like they’ve gotten off track
Negative Thought Patterns / Strong Inner Critic - getting off the negative thought spiral & stopping the critic in its tracks
Perfectionism & Workaholism - helping you stop spending so much time perfecting and start spending more time enjoying life
Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) - helping you find your unique gifts & manage the overwhelm of our modern lives
Low Self-Esteem / Self-Worth - learning to appreciate and accept yourself just the way you are, without so much judgment
Life & Career Transitions - helping you navigate life’s ups and downs, whether it’s a big move, a career change, or setting and achieving a new goal
Relationship Issues - helping you work with the inevitable challenges of being in relationship with other humans, whether it’s a romantic relationship, a parent/child relationship, or a professional relationship (boss, coworker, subordinate, etc.)
What’s a Psychotherapy or Coaching Session Look Like?
This can vary widely depending on the client and what you bring to the table in terms of challenges you’re facing and what you’d like to get out of coaching or therapy. We will start by discussing what you want to get out of therapy or coaching. What goals do you have? What would you like to be different? Then together we will come up with a plan for addressing those goals. We will use that plan to guide your therapy or coaching, and make adjustments along the way as needed.
You always get to be in control of how we use our time together because I believe you are the expert in your own life. I may invite you to challenge your edges sometimes, but ultimately you get to decide what you’re comfortable with and what you most need. I will offer my professional expertise and experience as a guide to help you reach your goals faster and easier than you might on your own.
I use a variety of techniques to help you create change and reach your goals. My approach is influenced by several research-based modalities including wilderness/nature-based therapy, mindfulness training, positive psychology, self-compassion, attachment theory, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
I work with each client to find an approach that fits for you. For one person, that might be going for a walking/hiking session, or a session down by the creek, for another, it might be working together in the office, learning a new mindfulness practice to build awareness or calm the nervous system. It is always up to you and we will discuss how to best meet your needs when we chat. Just sign up for a free consult below.
Now, you may still have some questions or concerns about individual therapy and coaching…
What’s the difference between psychotherapy and coaching?
Many people wonder what the difference is between counseling and coaching, since I offer both. Truthfully, there is some overlap between the two. The short answer is that therapy tends to deal with mental health issues, whereas coaching is often more short-term, goal-oriented and deals with general life, work and relationship challenges.
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, then psychotherapy would likely make the most sense for you. If you are dealing with stress at work, are thinking about changing careers, are trying to reach a new goal and need some support and accountability, or if you just feel like you’ve lost your way in general and want some help getting back on track, then coaching might be better for you.
So, which one do I need, you ask? Well, we can decide on that together when we chat. I talk with each client at the outset of our journey together to get a sense of the challenges going on in your life. At that point, I can better assess which approach might make the most sense for you depending on your particular needs.
I offer psychotherapy only for clients residing in the state of Colorado. However, coaching can be offered to clients living anywhere, and can be done either in person at my Boulder, CO office, or over the phone or via secure video conferencing.
When is it time to see a Therapist or Coach?
There is no set answer for this question because every person is different. Some signs that it might be time to reach out to a therapist or coach are:
Changes in your sleep or eating habits
Loss of satisfaction or joy in your life
Feeling overwhelmed by worry or stress
Difficulty getting to work or school
Trouble making decisions that are necessary for your life
Struggling to create or maintain important relationships (either at home or at work)
If your symptoms are interfering with other important areas of your life
If you feel stuck and want/need something to change
Does seeing a psychotherapist or coach mean I failed?
Absolutely not! This is one of my greatest pet peeves about our society: the notion that we should be able to do everything ourselves, to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps so-to-speak, without ever asking for help. This is a completely unrealistic expectation, and one that causes many of us a lot of pain and suffering. Because of expectations like this and the stigma around seeking help, 60% of Americans with a mental illness did not receive mental health services in the prior year. That means more than half the people who need help aren’t getting it. (And that’s only the people they can count.)
If you want help, but are uncomfortable reaching out to ask for it, I’d like to offer you a perspective shift. All of the world’s greatest leaders have one thing in common: they know when and who to ask for help. They recognize that it is impossible for them to do everything themselves, and they reach out to others who are experts in their area for advice and support in making decisions or creating change. So think of reaching out for help as an act of leadership and strength, rather than a last resort due to failure or weakness. Because that’s not what this is at all.
I’m concerned about the cost of therapy/coaching
Many people let their symptoms get to the point of interfering in major ways in their life because of their concern over the cost of therapy. If you are worried about how much therapy costs, let me offer you some more information that might make the process less worrisome for you.
Part of the cost for psychotherapy may be covered by your insurance
While I am not in-network with any particular insurance company (there are just too many!), most of my clients are able to receive reimbursement for psychotherapy sessions from their insurance provider at out-of-network rates. What this means is that the client pays out of pocket, and then I provide a Superbill to make it easy for the client to submit all the necessary information to their insurance for out-of-network reimbursement (which is typically only slightly less than in-network rates).
I offer some sliding scale spots in my practice
If you do not have insurance, or if you are interested in coaching, I do offer a limited number of sliding scale spots in my private practice based on financial need. If you are struggling financially right now, please let me know and we can discuss how we could potentially make therapy or coaching more affordable for you.
Start getting your life back on track today!
I have helped many people create positive changes in their lives. Together we can find your path forward. Schedule a free consult call to see how I could help you too (you can do it right online).
