Person-Centered (Rogerian)

My primary perspective is client centered and I believe that my clients are the experts in the room when it comes to knowing who they are and what they want/need.

I have received extensive training and certification, as well as continued education credits in person-centered therapy.

My approach to therapy is based on Person Centered which I learned during graduate school and I believe its a crucial foundation in working with clients.

Rogerian therapy is the understanding that client's possess the answers to their emotional suffering and need emotional support and greater understanding of themselves to help them solve their own problems. This approach allows clients to develop a belief in themselves and their ability to know what they need. People come to therapy because they are in need of help or feeling lost or confused. This approach focuses on creating a better connection with oneself and confidence in one's own decision

As a social worker, I meet the client where they are, and I follow their lead. I set the frame with clear boundaries leaving a lot of space for the client to feel safe and secure to share knowing that they will be accepted and not judged. My approach is interactive, open, authentic and unconditionally supportive. I see the interaction as a collaborative partnership to help my clients achieve a greater sense of wellbeing in their lives.

My doctoral studies and clinical training focused extensively on classical Client-Centered theory and therapy in the tradition founded by Carl Rogers. I teach Person-Centered therapy at the graduate level, contributing to clinical research and international conferences. I specialize in listening closely to convey empathic understanding of clients' experiences from their perspective. My goal is to create a relationship that helps clients access their inherent capacity for self-healing and growth.

I am dedicated to fostering a supportive and empathetic therapeutic environment. My expertise lies in empowering clients by emphasizing their innate strengths and capacity for self-healing. Through active listening, unconditional positive regard, and genuine empathy, I guide clients in exploring their thoughts and feelings, promoting personal growth and self-discovery. This approach helps clients achieve greater self-awareness and fulfillment.

I believe that you are the expert of your own life and your own experience. I can only learn who you are from what you share with me and will never claim to know any more or less. I strive to create a safe space that fosters independence, empowerment and dignity so that my clients feel validated, supported, understood, and heard.

Person-centered therapy, also referred to as Rogerian therapy, was developed and cultivated by psychologist Carl Rogers from the 1940s through the 1980s. The aim of person-centered therapy is to facilitate a client's innate drive toward personal growth and "self-actualization." This is done by providing the conditions now generally recognized by other therapeutic methods as necessary for change, including unconditional positive regard, therapist congruence (genuineness), and empathic understanding. Rogers is quoted as having said "I can't make corn grow, but I can provide the right soil and plant it in the right area and see that it gets enough water; I can nurture it so that exciting things happen. I think that's the nature of therapy."

My primary theoretical orientation is person-centered. That means, I believe that you are the expert of your life and that I am a fellow traveler, here to help you identify and remove the roadblocks on your path to living as your most authentic self. I have trained during my master's degree toward being a person-centered counselor, and I like to use the techniques from this orientation the most in session with you, as it puts a big emphasis on you as a unique individual, which informs treatment.

Person-Centered Therapy focuses on the therapeutic relationship. People are not flawed and are not their mental diagnosis. Everyone has the capacity to change and are on a path to self-actualization. The therapist provides the client with empathy and unconditional positive regard to create change in therapy. The client may have had "conditional" positive regard with many people in their life. This therapy creates a safe environment for the client to explore thoughts and feelings in the moment.

In life and in the therapy room, you are the expert in you. While utilizing Person-Centered Therapy, you will be seen and heard on your road to self-discovery. Discovering who you really are may be the most valuable challenge you have undertaken.

The person-centered therapy identifies that each person has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change. My role as a therapist operating from this approach is to provide unconditional positive regard for my clients. This means you are welcome to bring your true, authentic self to the session and know that you will be greeted with genuine empathy and acceptance by me without any judgments or conditions. Together we strive to help you achieve self-actualization.

I employ a person-centered approach because every individual is unique. No two clients or sessions should be alike. This therapeutic method is centered around you, tailoring sessions to your specific needs, experiences, and goals. By prioritizing your autonomy and self-discovery, we collaboratively navigate a personalized path towards growth and healing. In this way, the journey is uniquely yours, ensuring that our work together is as individualized and diverse as the wonderful person you are.

Through a Person-Centered approach to therapy, I will create an atmosphere that is inviting and accepting. I will essentially meet you exactly where you are and will empower you through continued increases in self-acceptance and modifications of behavior.

If we do not feel heard, seen and understood, no progress can be made. You are not a problem to be fixed but a person to walk alongside as you navigate life struggles.