Individual Therapy
As children, we dream about what life will be like when we grow up…
We can get away from our parents and rules, move wherever we want, live in our dream homes… Maybe we even dream about finding that special person and having a family.
We don’t quite know how it will all work out, but it will be good, right?
And somewhere along the way the dream is lost, forgotten, too hard, distant, and trampled down by the weight of responsibilities and the realities of just trying to figure out life.
Relationships are so complicated – with our friends, partners, families, and even with ourselves. Many days it seems easier to be alone; and yet at your core, you really want people to share life with.
Fear of failure, painful memories of the past, and feeling like you messed up life take over…
… and you feel paralyzed, not knowing which way to turn.
Often you think, “if I could just lose weight and workout more, I’d be happier and feel better, too. I know I would be more attractive.” And when it’s not about your body, it’s about your career, your children, or your school, always trying to do more or be more. And it never ends.
When it doesn’t work out, your kids are a mess, and your job isn’t all you thought it would be, you’re left feeling empty. “If I could just be better, do better,” you say to yourself… but you can’t, so you must be the problem, you think. “It’s all my fault.” You’re exhausted by trying and getting nowhere, running and running, only to realize you’re on the hamster wheel, stuck in the same spot.
The pain of loss and messed up relationships still feels raw, no matter how long it’s been. Friends say, “Move on, get over it, it’s time to go on with life,” and it seems so harsh… and worst of all, impossible. “This isn’t the way life was supposed to be!” you yell… and the words just echo in an empty room.
The negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself started long ago.
Oh, you put on a good show for others, but inside you know the truth about yourself, and it’s not pretty.
You have a sense that you messed up life, and you’re where you are through your own choices. And on the other hand, you are so angry about everything that happened to you and the people who hurt you that you can’t help but blame them.
It sounds so conflicting – and, yet, this is an ideal place for our work to begin, to help you make sense of it all.
I don’t give advice, and I don’t have all the answers.
Wouldn’t I be rich if I did, though??!!
But I do share my observations and help you see connections and patterns in your life, and guide you to find the answers and peace you desperately want.
Through talking, EMDR, and body awareness work, we begin the journey of your healing. Just like muscle memory in riding a bike or singing all the lyrics to a song you haven’t heard in 15 years, there are painful memories stored deep in the recesses of your mind and body. We’ll gently, gradually bring those memories to light.
Together, we’ll face them, work through the beliefs and fears, and allow the painful past to dissolve to memories that are truly behind you. I’ll help you replace the old negative tapes in your head with more confidence in yourself and hope for the future.
I’ll listen… even when no one else in your life does and no one else gets it.
Your friends and family are tired of hearing the same thing over and over.
And there’s so much that you can’t even tell them – about the affair you had, what your dad did to you, purging after a night of binging, addiction to pornography, how many bottles of wine you drink every day, how you stole from your best friend and lied to her, that you like girls instead of boys… You’re horrified to think about anyone knowing.
“If they knew the real me, they would hate me,” you think.
And yet, this is the place that you can talk about those things, where the shame can finally be lifted. I’ll stay by your side, with acceptance instead of rejection. We’ve all got a past, a lot of baggage we’re carrying around. Through my own mistakes and failures, I’ve learned to have so much grace for others and help others feel safe to share.
I’ll ask questions to begin to understand your life and how you got to be where you are. And through my questions and desire to understand more, your inner conflicts and barriers come out.
I’ll reflect on what you’re saying and provide thoughts and prompts to help you move forward. I often make observations when things seem to conflict, and I do it in love and kindness to help you see things from a different perspective; like you want people to like you, but you also want to control every aspect of the relationship, and you’re struggling. Or how you count calories and limit what you eat to control your body shape, but you feel so out of control when it comes to sex and relationships.
Creating a road map for a brighter future… together.
We’ll start with a focus on you, your story. Through your words and tears, I’ll understand what brought you to therapy, your history, what’s going on right now, and what you want to be better in your life.
Having explored your past and present, we’ll map out the way to get to your future. You are unique, so there is no cookie-cutter plan here. I have some knowledge, experience, and skills; and I also have what people tell me is more important to them… I care.
We’ll put that together with your knowledge, experience, and skills – and that’s where the magic happens. Together we make a great team!
I’ll introduce you to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which provides an effective and flexible way to build on your strengths and give you tools to help you manage emotions and deal with stress between our sessions. We’ll also use EMDR to explore and resolve things that happened in your past, like bullying, family problems, verbal and physical abuse, body shame, or feeling left out, that helped shape how you deal with things now.
I’ll also help you get in touch with what’s happening in your body, where you feel stress, sadness, anger, and other emotions to help you manage your emotions and feel more in control. We’ll use somatic therapy, mindfulness techniques, and some EFT tapping. I even bring out art supplies, sand, and other tricks up my sleeve (just kidding, no real tricks, just simple things) to help you paint the picture of your thoughts, emotions, memories, and goals, and begin to see new possibilities.
You are never too young or too old to change and grow.
I’ve worked with women and men of all ages who have struggled to find peace and satisfaction in life on their own, and our work together is what helped them finally break through!
I love working with teenagers and younger adults who feel stuck and can’t imagine a better future, especially when life to this point has been rocky. They begin to see how much they have to look forward to in life and feel confident in getting there.
My heart also connects with mid-life and older adults who are taking stock of where they are and are stuck in traumatic events and disappointments they can’t get past. I help them resolve the past, accept themselves, and live for the future, no matter whether they’re 45 or 75. They find renewed passion and purpose in life.
Life is a journey of learning and moving forward, and I’d be honored to walk with you on this path. You don’t have to walk it alone.
Ready to find out more? There’s no reason to wait.
I know it can feel strange and scary to talk to a stranger, even to just make that first call. I get it, and I’ll make it as easy as possible for you. Clients find me warm and personable, and frequently feel better just getting that first phone call out of that way.
Call today and get it off your chest. (And you can even email me to set up that first call.)
If you get my voicemail, please leave a message. I’ll call you back within 24 hours, and we’ll find a good time to talk and see how I can help. I’ll listen, answer your questions, and share what you’re interested in knowing.
There is no charge for this 15-minute phone consultation, and no obligation after the call.
I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Give me a call: (404) 994-1034 or email me at lisa@footpathpartners.com.