Individual Therapy
I offer Individual Psychotherapy in a comfortable office in NE Portland. Before starting therapy, clients often have questions about what to expect from the process. Questions and conversation prior to scheduling are always welcome, so please feel free to contact me at any time.
What type of therapy do you practice?
Having practiced in this field for over 25 years I would describe my approach as eclectic. I practice therapy using many theoretical models, combining them to serve the individual needs of my clients. With some clients I use a single model exclusively, but with others I will weave together methodologies that will work to address the needs presented in the therapy room. This can make for a rich and tailor-made experience.
The bits and pieces we may knit together in therapy are any combination of: self reflective work, learning about and practicing mindfulness, self awareness building, ideas from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family of Origin perspectives, trauma work (including EMDR), along with ideas stemming from work in Nonviolent Communication. I use ideas from the research on couples done by John Gottman Ph.D and incorporate the work of many others. Additionally, I draw from the vast pools of research done on the brain and attachment theory.
“Feelings are just visitors, let them come and go.”
How can therapy help me?
A good metaphor for therapy is crossing a bridge – working with a therapist can help you get from where you are to where you want to be.
Sometimes we aren’t sure where we are now - in these instances, therapy can help us to define this. From there, we can begin to figure out where we want to go and then develop the tools and skills necessary to move there.
The process of therapy creates a safe holding place and non-judgmental arena for:
self reflection and growth
connecting with a more knowing self
discovering and articulating your values and what it is you care about
exploring the way in which you want to live in the world and live in relationships
learning about and practicing relationship skills
learning new skills around self care and nurturing
the experience of slowing down and creating a sense of peace
understanding your history and when it is activated
exploring your history’s usefulness to present day
With a sense of peace and a connection to your own values, you can make conscious and informed decisions about how you want to move through the world. You will become the person you want to be.
What kind of therapy do you practice?
My role in the therapy varies as much as the individual needs and personalities of my clients. I am always curious and listening to what is said (and not said). As an active participant in the process, I may reflect your thoughts and emotions back to you, ask you questions, make observations, ask you for clarification, teach you tools, or practice specific skills with you.
Clients often say things like “just tell me what to do!” This, as you may guess, is one thing I will not do, as, frankly, it won’t help you grow or help you develop trust in your own sense of knowing. My job is to help you discover how to lead yourself on your own path, and to make authentic and informed decisions despite uncertainty. What works for one does not work for all, and answering at those times could be a disservice to you as a person, not just as my client.
The beauty of therapy - and one of the reasons why I love my job - is that each of us will find our own way.
“Don’t let anyone rent space in your head for free”
What can I expect in starting therapy?
First a minimal amount of paperwork is required, then an initial intake session will be scheduled. During the first session we will talk about the reason you are here now. What caused you to make this appointment? I will also collect information about your current life as well as your history. In this session I will listen and ask questions while taking notes as you do most of the talking.
As we begin to get a sense of being in the room together, I ask each person to pay close attention to what it feels like to be here, talking in this room to this person – me, Colleen.
A sense of comfort is essential to the therapeutic process. (The experience of the next session feels quite different, and together through subsequent visits we begin to dig deeper into the current issues at hand, as well as the roots or sources of the issues presented.) what about deleting this and add the previous sentence to the paragraph above
Symptoms
There are many sources of anxiety and depression. Therapy may help reveal the source of these symptoms, but knowing the source is not a necessary step of experiencing relief (despite what Hollywood would have us think). In many cases there are specific tools and techniques to work with in therapy which help alleviate anxiety and depression.
Many people seek help for depression or anxiety without realizing that these two tend to come as a package. Both are painful, can flare-up in an instant, and can be debilitating when they show up at the wrong time. Therapy is a way to help an individual find a way beyond these symptoms.
Anxiety can take a variety of forms, including:
worry and fear
ruminating thoughts
panic attacks
social anxiety and performance anxiety
constant or periodic agitation
feeling nervous
Depression is not always obvious in its presentation, sometimes showing up as:
sleep difficulties
lack of interest or pleasure in activities and life
difficulty connecting with others
feelings of guilt and worthlessness
lack of self-care and concern
substance use and abuse
“Close some doors. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.”
How long does therapy usually take?
Because therapy is a very individual experience, there is no right answer to this question. Some clients come in to resolve a very specific issue, and we will work together for 2, 3 or 4 visits. If a client is experiencing significant disruption in their lives, we may need to cover more ground over the course of anywhere from 6 months to a year or more.
We typically begin with meeting every other week, which allows us a chance to get to know each other and to decide on what we will be working towards together. From there, the treatment builds momentum and the scheduling changes accordingly - either becoming more frequent or with greater time between sessions.
Check-in sessions serve to refresh the insight, skills and practices learned during the therapy and are often highly productive.