I am psychodynamically trained, though I use a number of tools and approaches depending on the person’s needs. That can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. What I feel is most important however, is the rapport. In that rapport, trust is built, and only then can the real work of healing begin. From there, we can work together to see what tools work best to help you achieve your goals and cope with the challenges.
My areas of focus include:
- anxiety
- depression
- life transitions
- LGBT issues
- medical diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life issues
- grief and bereavement
From my experience, it is often towards the middle of a session that a person settles in, sheds the day’s stressors, and truly begins to focus in on their issues. Therefore, I do not work on the traditional “45-minute hour” of most therapists. I want to get to the root issues as much as you do so I offer a 60-minute hour when I meet with people. I am just as invested in the art of this process as you are.
* Special note on COVID-19*
All sessions are now being provided online, through Zoom. While this is far from the ideal (I’d rather offer you hot tea in the tranquility of my office), it is still a way of connecting and addressing the issues which may be going on for you during this time. It is important to remember that everything is temporary. Whether it is times of illness, environmental changes, or weather patterns…everything is temporary. I look forward to seeing you in person as we all move through this together.
“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us, backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” – Anais Nin
Claudine Riley, LICSW 