My Approach
My approach to psychotherapy is called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ACT is an evidence-based approach to psychotherapy that has been extremely effective at empowering people to face life's challenges, overcome difficulties, and attain a purposeful and meaningful life.
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A mindfulness-based therapy, ACT challenges the ground-rules of most Western psychology. As an ACT therapist, my work with clients is collaborative and practical with a strong emphasis on compassion, acceptance, and living in the present moment. ACT has proven effective with depression, anxiety, OCD, workplace stress, chronic pain, relationship issues, PTSD, anorexia, drug abuse, and more.
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The Goal of ACT
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Though pain is unavoidable, suffering is not. The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it. “ACT” is an apt acronym, as the therapy is about taking effective action in which we are fully present and guided by our deepest values.. Through mindful action, we can create a vital, meaningful life, even in the face of life's inevitable set-backs, disappointments, and losses.
Why Mindfulness?
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Mindfulness is about bringing purposeful awareness to our here-and-now experience with openness, curiosity and receptivity. Learning to live our lives in the present moment enables us to engage fully in what matters to us, rather than getting lost in our thoughts about the future or past. It allows our thoughts and feelings to be as they are, letting them come and go rather than making futile attempts to control them. Bringing mindful awareness to our internal experience can help us to transform our relationship with painful thoughts and feelings in a way that reduces their impact and influence over our lives. It frees us to live here and now rather than feeling trapped in memories and fears.
"Owning our own story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it."
Brene Brown