Areas of Expertise
My practice is focused on adults ages 25-65 for individual psychotherapy and couple's counseling. I specialize in working with women. I am experienced and comfortable working on a broad range of problems, some of which include, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, professional or work concerns, and for assistance with life transitions. I have a special interest in all types of loss and grief and hold End-of-Life Doula and Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificates from the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. It is not necessary though to have an identified problem in order to meet with me, since I also work with people who are feeling stuck or unfulfilled in life to find ways to more forward differently. Couples most often contact me to work through relationship problems that have arisen, improve communication, and restore the connection.
(802) 654-8820
My Approach
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy varies widely depending upon the therapist. Although the techniques used by psychotherapists and counselors can be determined by the particular problems involved, more often they depend upon the education, training and therapist's beliefs about human development and psychotherapy. Let me briefly describe my style and beliefs about psychotherapy.
In its most broad sense, psychotherapy is treatment for mental and emotional health. Without assistance, it can be difficult for someone to see all aspects of the problems that he or she is struggling with because some of the patterns and symptoms a person has will have unconscious aspects to them. I work with people to become cognizant of these aspects in their thinking, relationship styles, and behavior. However, even once someone has identified the ins and outs of his or her problematic patterns and the underlying reasons for the symptoms; it can still be difficult to make lasting changes because fears and other resistances will provide pressure towards maintaining the status quo. I help people to become more psychologically flexible through discovering insights about themselves and making lasting changes in their patterns of relating to others, in their ways of thinking about situations, and in behaviors and symptoms so that life can feel more fulfilling, successful, and at ease.
Couples Therapy
Most couples seek help to restore connection, improve communication and work through problems that have arisen. My style of couples or marriage therapy focuses on improving communication while looking at each person's developmental and historical patterns and how these patterns are being replicated in the relationship. Historical patterns both attract people to one another and cause problems with relating to each other. Through this therapy, couples often learn to distinguish what is reasonable to expect from their partner, change their own behaviors that are contributing to problems in the relationship, and better work together so that each person's needs are being met.
Benefits and Risks of Therapy
Therapy has both benefits and risks. To illustrate, first, it cannot offer any absolute guarantees of improvement. Furthermore, because therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of one's life, people may experience uncomfortable feelings. On the other hand, therapy has been shown to have positive outcomes. Some examples of the positive outcomes that my clients have experienced are improved relationships, discovering of personal insights, symptom relief, changes in behavior and perspectives, professional success, and found peace with oneself.
