The Gottman method has us look at the foundation of friendship, the frame of trust and commitment, and levels of: fondness, admiration and habits for emotional connection. We will take the relationship temperature. Is there positive expectation or are you in ‘negative over-ride’? The ability to navigate conflict is frequently a starting place. There is also finding healing from relationship betrayal and coping with individual concerns such as substance abuse, depression and past trauma.

When trust, commitment, friendship and ability to manage conflict are ‘in-check,’ a profound depth of relationship can be achieved: renewed romance, pursue life goals and shared meaning.

Utilizing a variety of methods, I will work with you to achieve a healthy, interdependent partnership.

Newer behavioral modalities are called Contextual Behavioral therapies. One may experience significant anxiety, depression, and the impact of complex trauma or perhaps impulsive anger or substance use behaviors. Through practical skills training and coping methods one can tame emotions and create new habits to remain fully engaged in life. Negative thought patterns are challenged through discussion in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns.

When something happens in the present that brings up questions like, "Why did I do that?" "Why was I so upset?" "I know I eat when I'm upset, but why can't I stop?", "Why do I keep finding myself in the same kind of relationship?", "I know my [depression, anxiety, anger, etc.] has to do with my past and I still feel powerless to it." These questions are effectively addressed in hypnotherapy.

'Hypnosis' is a 'relaxed-awake' state of consciousness, also called trance.  'Hypnotherapy' is therapy while in a relaxed trance. This level of trance is similar to being absorbed in a TV program, focused on the computer, driving on the highway or daydreaming. Since it is quite normal to be relaxed and concentrate at the same time, anyone can be hypnotized.  While hypnotherapy works best if you are open to it; it is a simple willingness to be guided to relax, imagine and visualize.

Therapy through relaxation of the conscious mind provides access to the sub-conscious. This is where we store our long term memory, habits and 'automated' ways of being (e.g. addictions and triggered reactions). A typical session begins with deciding on a focus such as a current situation, emotion or behavior. Through this process there is an increased openness to change negative beliefs and negative coping skills at the source of these in your life.

I am an Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist (ACHT). You may be interested in receiving hypnotherapy as a course of treatment for your mental health concern; or, perhaps, you would like to combine it with regular therapy. I invite you to talk with me about how hypnotherapy can benefit you.

I believe that if one adopts Mindfulness and Meditation, therapy will not take as long. Within the therapy context, it's not possible to 'talk' someone out of thought rumination (constant thinking), much of one's anxiety experiences is nothing that can be controlled. It requires a radical choice to not fix, change nor control. I have been recommending Dean Sluyter's work on Natural Meditation as a very accessible way to understanding meditation. This is his outline for getting started:

• Sit comfortably (doesn't need to be yoga/cross-legged/pretzel)
• Use a breathing, gazing, listening, slight movement or body sensing (optional)
• Notice being aware
• Allow your awareness to settle on its own
• Any time you notice resisting or holding on to thoughts, "relax your grip"
• After a while, take a few minutes to ease out slowly

Sluyter, Dean. Fear Less (2018), page 78