Therapy is a self-paced and non-confrontational dialog between you, the client, and myself, the therapist. In this dialog, we shall identify and gently "unpack" the hidden beliefs, feelings, and attitudes that lock you into unproductive behavior patterns and prevent you from realizing your full potential.
In this process, you will gain "Aha!" insights into why you feel and act the way you do in various situations. These insights allow you to consciously choose a more productive behavior pattern.
Sometimes (but not necessarily), previously hidden feelings will cause discomfort and anxiety when they first reappear. However, you set the pace and only experience these feelings in your own time and when you feel able to do so.
Therapy is non-judgmental: There is no "standard" or "preferred" way of living, being, or thinking for you to conform to. We simply seek to reveal the naturally energetic, beautiful, loving, and productive person that you already are inside.
If you find yourself thinking thoughts similar to those above, or if money, job promotions, vacations, new clothes, and so on, simply don't make you feel happy, fulfilled, or connected to the world and those around you, then you will most likely benefit from therapy.
This depends greatly on the individual and the issues that you are dealing with. Smaller issues may only require several months; deeper and more complex issues could require a year or more.
A lack of communication and understanding between partners can show up in a relationship as a distancing, lingering resentment, or feeling of "falling out of love." Under these circumstances, it's time to "tune up" your relationship!
In couples therapy, you will learn to really listen to your partner. You will be amazed at how little you have both actually listened to each other in the past! You will:
The therapist does not "take sides," and nobody is "wrong." It is a bizarre fact of life that people take on the stresses and strains of living together (and often raising a family) without any training whatsoever. In Couples Therapy, you will learn simple but powerful techniques to help you live and work together, and to love and appreciate each other.
I am licensed to provide the necessary forms for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Note, however, that all therapy sessions must be paid for by you at the time of the office visit.
I do not accept HMO clients. I prefer not to be on HMO panels because there is a possibility that my clinical judgment can be overruled and also that clients could lose client confidentiality.
This is a license issued by the Board of Behavioral Science of the State of California to therapists who have a Masters or Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, who have passed both written and oral examinations administered by the Board, and who have completed 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. An MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist) is licensed to provide psychotherapeutic sessions to individuals, couples, and families who experience problems in their relationships to family, friends, coworkers, and community.
I am also a clinical member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Perhaps you would prefer to work, for example, with a male therapist. The relationship that you establish with your therapist is very important; so it is important that you feel that you can relate openly and honestly to your therapist. I am part of an extensive network of psychologists, psychiatrists, and MFTs who work in the Bay Area and who refer clients to each other. Thus, if you have special needs, please call and I would be happy to give you appropriate referrals.
Copyright (c) 1997-- 2006. Iris Stallworth-Grayling, MA, MFT. All rights reserved.