About Therapy

We all deal with things the best way we know how.

Sometimes we hide from others, either by not going out or making friends, or just hiding our true selves from the people we know.

But life has come to a point where hiding is every day. It’s the norm. You feel alone even among people.

And you’re scared that if others really knew you and could see your insides and outsides for what they really are, they would run… really.

The one criterion for picking out an outfit is not looking fat in it, and you don’t even want to look at your body anymore.

More self-hatred and criticism come out of your mouth than anything else, especially in private. Secrets of things you’ve done and what’s been done to you haven’t gone away. You waffle between, “It’s over, it’s in the past, it’s no big deal,” and “I just want these thoughts to stop and feel normal again. But I don’t know how anyone can understand. I can’t even explain it.”

And you just can’t stand who you are anymore… how you think, how you feel, and certainly what everyone else sees.

Life has gotten stuck and miserable. Something’s gotta give. You just can’t take it anymore.

There’s no manual on finding a good therapist, is there?

Most adults don’t expect to find themselves calling a therapist and sitting on a couch talking to someone…but to let you in on a secret, many of us do!

We all get stuck sometimes, need to make that call, and face the fear to walk in the door. I’ve done it myself, different times in different situations, knowing something had to change; and I needed help, but really nervous about how it was going to go.

I didn’t know if I would like the therapist, if he or she would like me, and if I would be judged. It brought up a pit in my stomach.

I was so glad I got help, though, and I wish the same for you. I’m so glad you’re here.

Finding that connection is SUPER important.

You’re hoping to find someone real… someone who gets it, who gets you… and all the crap you’ve put up with and struggled through and blamed yourself for. And you’re hoping to find someone to help you figure out what to do and where to go from here.

You want someone who calls you back… who looks as though they’re happy to see you… who waits patiently for you to get the words out – those words that you’ve never told anyone.

You need someone who doesn’t judge you or give you “that look.”

You want someone who laughs with you when you need to… ‘cause it’s either laugh or cry, and you’re tired of crying.

Of course, you’re right to want someone who won’t talk over you or try to fix things… someone who can just be there with you – who can stay with you no matter what. Yeah… that would help.

Where in the world to start?

When you think about how in the world to tell your stuff to a stranger and where to start, you just want to do it once – not like speed dating where you keep trying until you hit the jackpot.

So let’s see if we’re a good fit for working together. We’ll start with a short (15- to 20-minute) call, where you don’t have to spill it all, and you can decide if you’d like to come meet me in person for your first appointment.

You don’t have to worry about what to say in our first call – I’ll guide you through talking about what’s on your mind and setting up the first appointment, when you’re ready. Then I’ll follow up to make sure you have all the information you need, know what to bring, and how to get to my office.

When you arrive, I’ll greet you with a smile and walk with you back to my office where you can sink into the loveseat or a comfy chair – and just take a breath. Pillows, blankets, soft lights, essential oils, a rug, and a rocker all make the space cozy, comfortable, and a place to begin to feel at home. We’ll take things at your pace.

When we meet virtually, you choose a space where you feel most comfortable.

From the time we talk on the phone for your consultation, to walking in and getting comfortable on the couch, to the day you “graduate,” I’ll be there to help you feel more at ease.

Let me make it all a little bit easier for you to get through this process.

Can’t someone just fix it… just make it better?

Well, it can get better… but it’s not a one-stop, one-session solution.

Your therapist is your partner in the process. Some have even likened me to a tour guide who helps you go into the places you don’t dare go alone… a tour guide with kick-ass nunchucks to help you whip the bad guys and conquer this new land. Yes!

Dark places?

Yep, they do come up, even when you think it’s just about the food, or the anxiety, or the breakup. If only you could lose the weight and eat healthier, if only you could stop worrying about everything, if only…

So I help you find where the bad guys are coming from, like things that happened to you and you thought were long forgotten… and make it to the X on the map; you know, the treasure, what you’d really like your life to look like!

There IS a reward at the end!

We look at where and how your thoughts and pain have gotten stuck to not only help you out of the current situation, but to get down to the root so those messages of “I’m not good enough” and “No one can love me” don’t keep coming up over and over again.

You desperately want to be confident, believe in yourself, and know who you are in life – and it IS possible.

It’s a journey that we walk together. And I’ve got your back.

So, this journey… is it really worth it?

When you begin to feel a little lighter, less angry, and less stressed, it feels encouraging. You can keep going. It is relieving to open up and lift the weight.

Therapy begins to feel like a safe, comforting place where you know you’re going to work hard, but it feels like more steps forward than backward.

One of the hardest challenges can be the realization that you can’t change someone else, even when they’re causing you so much pain. You can only change yourself.

But that’s also where the greatest joy comes from – when you realize that you DO have the POWER to change yourself and your life in ways you never imagined. When the weight is off and your vision is clearer, you feel different, behave differently, and make different choices – all for a healthier, more peaceful you.

It’s more than worth it. Climbing the mountain of change and standing at the top surveying the beauty of your life… it’s life-changing!

I’ll be your partner and guide walking with you all the way. Like any good guide on an unknown journey, I’ll help you navigate the danger spots, keep the end (your goals) in mind, adjust our speed and course when you’re tired, encourage you to take care of yourself along the way, and CHEER you on.

One thing my clients love about working with me is they don’t have to come up with what they’re going to talk about in every session – they say, “Lisa, you’ve always got a plan!” And you get to make choices along the way.

Here are just some of the things we’ll do on your journey…

Some days, therapy is talking and listening, and reflecting.

You may have a lot on your heart and mind to share, and just need me to be there. You can cry, question, struggle, and share the good memories and the painful ones. I’ll be there. Having me as your support can provide such relief and be a place of solace in the middle of your week.

Some days, therapy is looking at the negative beliefs about yourself and life you’ve carried for years and understanding where they came from.

We’ll get to the bottom of them and help you change negative beliefs to more neutral or positive beliefs about yourself, as we go through specific memories, current problems, and fears of the future. Usually this work is using eye movements to help your own mind bring its wisdom to the places you’re stuck (check out the EMDR page for more info). Clients tell me at the end of most sessions that they feel calmer and more hopeful, right away.

Some days, therapy is less talking and more doing.

We tap into your right brain with materials like markers, clay, and sand; or we act out what’s happening in your life.

Your left brain holds logic and language, but sometimes things don’t make sense and the words aren’t there. So, working with your right brain helps you have a new awareness of what’s happening on the inside and outside of you, and brings insight to your feelings and situation.

In other words, similar to EMDR, creative activities in therapy can help you get unstuck and feel hope again.