About Therapy

They say change happens when you get out of your comfort zone.

Well, you’ve been uncomfortable for a long time now, yet still unable to change anything and desperate for some sense of relief.

Your family depends on you… your job needs you… your friends rely on you. And you feel lucky to have them but so much depends on you and your ability to deliver the very best of yourself. The pressure is unbearable at times.

It feels like you do the same things day in and day out, yet nothing seems to get done.

After devoting so much of your time and energy to taking care of your responsibilities, there’s nothing left over for you.

You feel so tired, stressed, and unhappy that all you want is to be left alone, but you feel guilty for feeling this way, so you beat yourself up about it… because, after all, you “have it all.”

Trying to distract yourself from these unpleasant thoughts, you double down and jump headfirst into even more work and more responsibility, neglecting yourself even further in the process. You’re trapped in a vicious cycle.

The storm rages on the inside.

But you’ve got exactly zero minutes in your day to focus on that. You have to keep it together. But how can you when you feel like you’re drowning?

The messages from society are clear: “Don’t complain about it, do something about it… only the strong survive”… and, [insert literally any conventional wisdom and “motivational” quote here].

It all translates into one message: If something’s not going perfectly well for you or if you’re not flawlessly coping with life… you must not be good enough, tough enough, or blank enough.

Admitting that you need help is equated to weakness… and weakness (you’re told) equals failure.

It all leaves you feeling alone, frustrated with yourself, and inadequate. With a feeling, deep down, that you can’t seem to shake and insidiously destroys your self-esteem, your self-worth, and your ability to believe in yourself.

Let’s talk about how some of you got here.

The plight of the “strong one.”

You may have learned this “important life lesson” somewhere along the line: “I can only rely on myself.”

So, that’s exactly what you do all day… every day: You figure it out all on your own. No matter the situation… no matter the challenge… you go at it alone. And, in doing so, you’ve developed an internal strength that has helped you navigate even the toughest of life’s situations.

You developed the ability to tolerate discomfort and pain. Strong enough to take it, you simply sit there and take it, staying in painful, uncomfortable, unfavorable situations, relationships, and jobs far longer than you should… tolerating much more responsibility than most people can handle.

Here’s the kicker: Because you’re so good at being uncomfortable, you’re also better at tolerating the internal turmoil that you’re going through. However, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

The result is that you’re tightly wound, burnt out, stressed out, and unable to unload on others. It’s an especially lonely place to be. Suffering in silence; fighting an internal battle that no one else knows about. It feels like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders.

“Who bakes for the baker?”

Yes, I know it’s a cheesy line from a TV show, but it’s true. While you’re out there being the rock for everyone else, who’s got your back? To whom do you turn for help and support?

The people I work with are fighters – self-reliant (perhaps to a fault), resourceful, strong, enterprising, and bold. They have big personalities, a strong work ethic, and are crushing it in at least one area of their life. However, they recognize that there’s something that’s not working.

If the thought of relying on someone else sets off your internal alarms, remember this: Even Rocky had a team of people in his corner!

My philosophy is simple…

Mental health is important, and treatment is for everyone.

Therapy puts tools in your toolbox that will help you navigate the toughest of challenges, sort out your problems, and improve your relationships with others. Even more importantly, it helps you get in touch with yourself – your true self – not the persona you present to others.

In my view, mental health has been considered “fringe” for way too long. Mental health isn’t a luxury. It’s not a fad. And even if you “don’t meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis,” you can struggle with your mental health. It’s all too real. Therapy can help.

Welcome to the discomfort zone.

You’re not here because you feel amazing. You’re likely physically and emotionally drained, and attending therapy sessions might seem like a Herculean task.

There’s no sugarcoating it. Therapy is hard. It’s emotional, messy, and can be exhausting. So it’s understandable that people avoid it for so long.

But therapy is also transformative. It can change your life, leading to self-discovery, personal growth, and healing.

One awesome thing about being “the strong one” is that you’ve got what it takes for such an undertaking.

And I’ll be there to help guide and support you (and cheer you on!) every step of the way.

I’ll meet you where you are…

And then we’ll work to take you where you want to be.

Let’s be real; therapy’s usually not the first place people go for help, and it probably wasn’t your first choice.

If you’re here, you’ve likely tried other things with varying degrees of success. And you might be exhausted and feeling hopeless from fighting what feels like a losing battle.

So we’ll start right where you’re standing and take it one step at a time.

We’ll work together to help you experience relief, peace of mind, break repetitive cycles, heal from your past, and finally find your balance.

A therapeutic relationship that heals…

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from research, it’s that the relationship between the client and the therapist is the most important factor for success in therapy.

Therefore, I focus on building a relationship with you where you feel seen, heard, and understood. Together, we’ll build trust, establish your goals, and work toward accomplishing them using evidence-based practices.

In Spanish, we say “cada persona es un mundo,” which translates into “each person is a world” – a simple phrase that captures an incontrovertible truth: There’s no one else like you.

There’s no magic pill or one-size-fits-all intervention that will work for everyone.

Considering the mind-body connection and understanding that human beings do not exist in a vacuum, I’ll develop a treatment plan that takes into account the complexities of your experience. And I tailor my approach to what works for you and your individual needs.

You can count on me to be authentic, empathic, and respect who you are as an individual.

You deserve to live life on your own terms.

It’s time to put yourself first, for a change… to have someone in your corner who’s invested in your well-being.

Call me today for a free 15-minute consultation: (561) 247-2901.

I’ll be happy to answer your questions to help you determine whether we’d be a good fit.