Why do I work with couples?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been intensely curious about human relationships and about how some couples and families engage in healthy communication and connection and others don’t.
I grew up mainly with my mother and sister; my father was absent. In my family, there was a lot going on, but no one felt comfortable talking about it. Thus, I didn’t have a place to talk, and make sense of my daily life.
When I first entered my own therapy in my early 30’s, I was amazed at how much I had to say. I had a storehouse of emotional experiences that poured out when I had the opportunity to share with someone who was emotionally responsive. A light went on for me. If I could experience such healing by spending 1 hour per week with a therapist, what richness was possible in a healthy relationship? And if intimate couples could learn how to really attune to one another, emotionally, the rewards could be limitless.
I believe that this kind of intimacy and connection is something we all crave. Even before I entered the field of psychology, when I was a massage therapist, I noticed that people had the need to talk (sometimes for 45 minutes!) before they even got on the massage table.
Thus, pursing the “talking” kind of therapy was pretty much a no-brainer for me.
I’ve studied many bodies of work in my quest to both become and to improve upon my abilities as a psychotherapist. I am certified in Gestalt therapy and still use this in my practice today – yes, even with couples.
Most recently, I’ve studied and very much resonate with the work of Sue Johnson, PhD, the founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy, or EFT.
I have been practicing as a therapist in Boulder since 2001.
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