Anxiety and Mood Problems
You’ll notice that anxiety is the only diagnosis that I mention by name. This is because, with anxiety, especially, common sense and helpful-sounding approaches often make it worse. BUT, there is a different way, and the good news is that treatments for anxiety that include exposure and behavioral activation are among the most powerful methods in all of psychotherapy. Really! This is why Anxiety is my favorite experience to work with. The approaches I use are considered “trans-diagnostic” meaning they work to help people make the change they want, and they apply to a wide range of problems. We start with where you are stuck and work to get you unstuck. We don’t start with a label or diagnosis.
Awareness and Attention Training
Attention is a trainable skill. Learn to work with instead of against yourself and focus on what matters. No meditation is required, though a meditation practice can be used to build specific skills you can then apply to your daily life. You can learn to direct your attention on purpose, with clarity and kindness. You’ll also learn how to work with your unique obstacles to maintaining attention and presence. These tools, in combination with the habit change tools described below are also appropriate and effective for improving executive functioning.
Habit Change / Goal Setting / Coaching
Learn and start using the best tools from psychotherapy, positive psychology, and behavioral change science. Start using tools you’ve heard about from authors, researchers, and professors like: Kelly McGonigal, Katy Milkman, James Clear, and Cal Newport. You’ll learn to set clear, specific, meaningful goals, aligned with your highest intentions for your life. This is about connecting your daily choices to your deeper values as well as your future goals. This sort of connection brings deep satisfaction and builds motivation for change.
Relationships and Communication
Relationships are at the heart of human thriving. Learning to build the sort of connection you long for generally involves feelings of risk and vulnerability. This is as much the realm of poetry as it is science or behavior. As it is relevant, relationship work may include, to name just a few: learning about underlying attachment patterns, learning new communication techniques, healing old wounds, or learning to reach for connection courageously even as old habits of protection would steer you toward old strategies of disconnection.