Individual Counseling for Adults

"The only service you can do for anyone is remind them of their true heart."

--Stephen Levine 

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The Counseling Journey

I like to think of counseling as a journey shared by two fellow travellers. If you imagine that you’ve been wandering around for a while in a dark forest by yourself, it might be helpful to seek out a supportive guide to walk with you. As a counselor, I have training and experience navigating dark forests. As my fellow traveller, you are intimately familiar with the terrain of your forest. I do not know which path you should take, but I am happy to walk with you while you find out for yourself which direction is best for you. I will accompany you through the forest with mindfulness, nonjudgmental support, guidance and a sense of humor. 

Specific Issues or Concerns

I have 15 years of experience working with others through the following concerns:

Anxiety and Fear

Shame

Self-Doubt/Imposter Syndrome

Depression

Grief and Loss

Men's Issues

Obsessive Thinking

Addictive Patterns

Life Transitions

Existential Issues (death, isolation, meaning/life purpose)

Spiritual Seeking

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Counseling with Meditation Support

There is a story about a Zen master on her deathbed. One of her students approaches, and asks “how are you doing with this dying process?” The master smiles and responds, “I am doing just fine, but my body is having a hard time catching up with that.”

The master is pointing to the courage it takes to acknowledge that even though we may understand something intellectually, we don’t necessarily feel this to be true. We all know what it is like to know we shouldn’t be anxious about something, and yet we are anxious. 

My approach to counseling incorporates guided meditations that may help you become more familiar with how you store anxiety, trauma, shame, depression, and insecurity in your body. Learning how to be with these experiences directly, rather than believing the story your mind is telling you, is a practice and a great tool for learning to ride the inevitable waves of life with greater understanding, resilience, and compassion. 

I would be honored to help you start, grow, and maintain a meditation practice while we work together. Anybody can learn to meditate, and having a trained teacher can help. Meditation has been shown to have the following benefits:

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Reduces stress, fear and anxiety

Promotes emotional health

Improves self-awareness

Improves concentration and focus

Improves capacity for kindness

May help reduce addictive behaviors

Improves sleep

Reduces feelings of depression

Helps to cope with pain

Can decrease blood pressure

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I make services available regardless of race, color, national origin/ancestry, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, military/veteran status, or marital status. 

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I offer counseling services to adults in the Hillsborough area.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact me. 

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