Our counselors provide therapy in Boca Raton, FL

I find the best benefit in strengths-based and mindfulness-based therapies, which remind individuals to observe themselves, rather than judge their thoughts and feelings. I find the most benefit in demonstrating to clients how they can relate better to themselves and reflect on their patterns, to guide them in the direction of where they would like to go. I like the analogy of taking a different street to help explain further the idea of breaking cycles that no longer serve them, to help them understand how change works.

I teach the following tools in individual therapy, tailored to the needs of the client:

• Mindfulness techniques - building awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, and patterns, from a non-judgmental perspective; I like the idea of the curious observer.
• Self-soothing and relaxation strategies - strategies that can help with managing anxiety, stress, and fight-or-flight response, such as deep breathing, safe place visualization, progressive muscle relaxation.
• Cognitive restructuring - identifying negative thought patterns and defining them, to help establish which thoughts are helpful versus harmful, and then re-framing, shifting, or re-focusing to a more empowering and productive thought.
• Self-care strategies - this can include practices related to any area of life: physical, mental, emotional, social, professional, spiritual (i.e. personal hygiene, taking breaks at work, having a consistent daily routine).

I realize a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they are able to reflect on their past and see how far they have come. They are able to openly express themselves and take a different perspective on a situation they have been struggling with. Also hearing they are regularly practicing coping techniques and noticing the improvement in their ability to manage stress levels and regulate emotions.

Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with the exercises we identify during our individual sessions together. I often give therapeutic homework to complete outside of sessions, as I tell all of my clients most of the therapy happens outside of a 1-hour therapy session (we have 168 hours per week). Some of the examples of assignments include: reading parts of a book, worksheet with exercises related to what we discussed, reading literature on mental health symptoms, completing a brief assessment, practicing a new skill (i.e. deep breathing, thought challenging), journal writing, and/or others.

I would encourage you to prepare for your first individual therapy session by taking some notes on what your goals for therapy would be, your expectations for therapy, and consider what you would like for me to know about you. The first session is mostly about me getting to know you. We can discuss whatever you are comfortable sharing with me, and if there is something you are not ready to talk about, I am understanding of this. Please also feel free to ask me questions about the therapeutic process and my approach; or even if there is an approach you've heard about before that you would prefer, I can be flexible.