Although the terms counseling and therapy are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between therapy and counseling. Counseling is usually more focused on specific issues and has short-term character. Therapy is more long-term and focuses on a broader range of issues.

I am well familiar with how it feels to be a client in psychotherapy, as though the course of becoming a therapist I received more than 300 hours of my own therapy. Looking back, I would say that in my opinion it is an absolute “must” experience to have to be in a position of helping others.

People come to therapy with their explanations for difficulties they have, which often gives them a feeling that their distress will last forever. The treatment that each provider provides, suggests an explanation for the distress that is usually more adaptive, — so the client understands what he or she can do to improve the situation. It often comes with a discussed list of healthy actions-, whether it is thinking more positive thoughts, creating better relationships with others and self, more appropriately expressing emotions, or enacting other positive changes. The most important aspect is not which treatment a person receives, but rather that the patient believes this particular treatment will work for him and works collaboratively with the therapist.

This question cannot be answered concretely and honestly at the same time. Often the questions that we ask ourselves at the beginning of therapy are replaced by new ones as we move deeper into ourselves. In my opinion, therapy is one of the most important investments we can make in ourselves and the quality of our own life. Therefore, when we deal with such categories, promises and any specific numbers do not look appropriate.

If we talk about noticeable shifts in self-awareness, I think it is worth considering a period of at least 6 months. And then the timing depends on your own ambitions in knowing yourself and your thirst for transformation.

On the contrary, I am against any coercion, including the fact that a person now cannot or is not ready to do it for some reason. Therefore, only you can determine the timing.

Perhaps more specifically, somewhere between six months, two years, or for the rest of your life (or until you get an awesome job offer in Seattle and decide to move). There really isn't a simple answer to this question because, after all, therapy is a gift you give yourself that can benefit you tenfold and often does.

Therapy is a strange kind of relationship where we travel together to find out who you are and why you are the way you are. It's hard to put a time stamp on it.

Conversely, I am never in favor of forcing anyone to do work that they really cannot or do not want to do. Ultimately, the duration of therapy comes down to your persistence in knowing yourself in relation to me.

Inner Child Work

We will be getting in touch with the narratives, emotions, and conclusions you have made during difficult experiences as a child. Things such as: witnessing your parents fights, not feeling safe at home, being bullied at school, being neglected at home, etc. We will find therapeutic ways to provide that inner child whatever it needed, whether it be nurture, protection, acceptance, etc. Unless we find healthy ways to meet these needs in adulthood, which were unmet in our childhood, we will continue to look for them in wrong places. Places such as our partners, friends, becoming a workaholic,and/or other addictions. Our external need of approval often comes with people pleasing behavior.

Experiential approach

With the activities and exercises I will provide to you, we should be able to spot certain patterns in relationships, which you are likely re-enacting in your current life with other people. For example, if you used to “deserve” being accepted by your parents, most likely you will bring this pattern to your other relationships, which can be not that obvious when we are playing by adult rules.

I will help you to not just become aware of those, but also find healthy alternatives. I will show you how to deal with hard emotions during transition from one way of dealing to another. We will also practice those patterns you decide to use instead, through narrative writing, role-play and being in touch with how they make you feel.

EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a reprocessing therapy internationally recognized as an effective intervention for the treatment of past trauma. In layman terms, it is a type of therapy that will help you heal from bad experiences, whether that be recently or the distant past. While we work together using EMDR, I will help you to understand the connection between the bad experience and your negative symptoms.

After drawing the connection, I will guide you through the EMDR process to reprocess the bad experience in a safe manner where you can talk about it without becoming overwhelmed. Throughout the process, I will be present, patient, and allow you to guide the pace to ensure processing is completed. In the end, we will work together to transform the meaning of these experiences so that you will feel, be, and have a different, healthier, and more adaptive perspective to move past what has been holding you back.

Analytical Psychology 

I am big fan of Yungian approach in therapy and Dr. Clarissa Estes, my teacher, is one of the most amazing of his followers alive today. If you are a woman, you probably don’t want to miss her bestselling book “Woman that runs with wolves”. Many women who read it call it a “Psychological Bible”. From this approach, you will hear from me a lot of metaphors, we will address such things as feminine and masculine energy, shadow, persona etc. aspects of personality that manifest in you and influence your relationships with self and others. I will help you to look at your behavior patterns from a deep lens and see some underlining impulses and messages coming through them.By embracing these impulses and messages, to choose different patterns if you should desire to do so.

Systemic lens

I use this one to understand some of my client’s patterns and issues, not just in context of individual challenge, but also as a symptom of what they been through and still carry with them from their family system. One of the ways I like to get to know my new clients, is by doing their family diagram. This helps me discover which processes and family dynamics influenced them while they were growing up and possibly, somehow, is still reflected in their current lives.

According to research and my clinical experience, yes it can. For many issues, including anxiety, relationship issues, and depression, it is as effective as face-to-face therapy.

I will send you a link to a HIPAA–compliant video platform, Google meet, prior to our meeting.

My fees for online sessions are the same as my fees for in-person sessions. (read more about it here)