My Approach
My General Approach to Counseling And Psychotherapy
I believe that my work as a psychologist is an outgrowth of my vocation and calling in life. I find my work with clients to be rewarding, challenging, and deeply meaningful. My overall goal in counseling others is to aid them in solving the key concerns in their lives—to make their lives more healthy, meaningful, fulfulling, and enjoyable.
I listen closely. I listen and try to make sense of problems and challenges faced by my clients. I listen in order to understand their thoughts and feelings about their general station in life, their relationships, and their living/working environment.
I am very interested in the goals and aspirations of my clients. I hope to gain a clear idea of their “felt needs” and what they want to get out of counseling. I want to hear about what they’ve already figured out about their concerns. I want to know what interventions they have tried, and the positive or negative results of these interventions.
My interpersonal approach as a psychologist is relaxed, collaborative, personal, and focused. Compared to most mental health professionals, I have been described as focused, practical, and clear. My general counseling approach is informed by a Cognitive-Behavioral perspective. With clients who seek spiritually focused psychological help—I am glad to share my perspective and thoughts that are Biblically informed and grounded in Christian conviction.
Most often I meet with clients on a weekly basis. As their condition improves, we usually lengthen the time interval between sessions. I often ask clients to complete “homework assignments” between sessions.