I've seen a pattern in therapy. Many clients who grew up in alcoholic, abusive, or dysfunctional family units have very similar struggles and maladaptive coping strategies. It's helped them to survive and make it through some dark days (this is what we call strengths based survival; you made it, you did it, but now that you're an adult you can learn new, healthy ways of coping with daily life - people, places, and things, like emotions and any other triggering circumstance).
When I present the idea to clients that there's now a new way to cope and function in the world they're usually surprised and confused. Why? Because once we've gotten into a pattern of thinking and relating to the world it's SO hard to make changes AND we assume this is life; this is how things will be...ESPECIALLY if we're talking about months, years, and decades of the same patterns at work, personally and within our family. And, add on to that, most clients are slightly on guard and don't want to admit that what they're doing isn't working. I like to remind my clients that this is okay. There's no shame in letting your guard down and trying something new; in fact, it's very brave. It's certainly can be scary but I love it when clients catch the vision that they CAN make changes and this is done more efficiently and safely through the therapeutic process; with someone who is trained to help you unpack and make sense of your thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns.
I love helping my clients realize the power of their voice, the benefits of owning their life story, and the connected emotions to it. This takes courage; It's powerful when clients catch the vision that they CAN learn to trust, they CAN overcome the past, and they CAN find hope & healing. I’m passionate about helping my clients work through past shame, pain, insecurities, abandonment, trauma, & abuse. I’m trained in EMDR therapy, Experiential therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I find that using these therapy styles helps my clients with understanding and working through core emotional, mental, and behavioral issues and concerns. I enjoy helping clients see their own worth, value, and potential; as well as, championing their strengths and helping them overcome destructive habits, past wounds, and unresolved core issues. I understand the power held in each client finding their voice, sharing their voice, and living life authentically. It’s courageous to reach out for help! Lastly, it's also common in families where there has been addiction, codependency, mental health issues, betrayal, or dysfunction to struggle to relate and connect authentically with one another. Some of the goals I like to pursue in individual and family therapy include the following: address the underlying core issues, teach healthy coping and communication skills, teach boundaries, and reduce instances that are triggering within the family unit. Helping clients and families understand that change is possible with some determination, honesty, and willingness is truly the best part of what I get to do as a therapist.
If any of the above scenarios sound familiar my questions for you include the following: What would your life be like if you were free from these barriers/struggles? What if you felt more empowered to take care of yourself, stand up for your needs/wants, and felt free to communciate openly? What if you were able to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, regret, and shame? Did you know it's possible?
If you relate to any of the following questions, I'd love for you to call for a free consultation so we can discuss how therapy can help improve your life: - How do I manage symptoms of depression? - How do I manage my anxiety? - How do I stop from being triggered by others? - How do I control impulsivity? - How do I learn to believe in myself? - How do I set boundaries? - How do I overcome my addiction? - What should I do if I'm struggling with abandonment or attachment issues? - How do I learn to have fun? - How do I stop over-reacting? - How do I work through perfectionism? - How do I improve communication with my spouse/loved one? - How do I identify and express what I feel? - How do I stop abusive patterns in my family? - How do I learn to trust myself? - How do I overcome shame? - How do I learn to trust others? - How do I heal from rape? - How do I overcome incest? - What is codependency? If I'm struggling with it, what do I do? - How do I work through trauma/PTSD? How do I know if I've got the symptoms? - I've never done therapy but I know I'm struggling and I'm scared to reach out for help. What should I do?
There are answers to ALL of these questions! That's the good news. There IS hope for your situation. Will you take a step of faith and start the process today? You are worth it. Therapy is designed to provide a safe, calm environment for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns in a non-judgmental setting. As a trained psychotherapist, I will help you develop the healthy coping skills needed, help you understand the impact of trauma/abuse, and I'll use evidence based practices to help you work through the symptoms that are present. Healing is possible.
I look forward to working with you! - Brittni
Common Traits of Adult Children of Alcoholics, Addicts, or Dysfunctional Families