Counseling......Gestalt Therapy and Dream Work

I've been a counselor for a long time, having worked in social service, public schools, mental health agencies, hospital psychiatric units and emergency services,and private practice.  I have experience with all ages and a wide variety of issues.that present to counselors.

My counseling practice now is devoted to working with individual adult clients.  I am a Gestalt Therapist and love using that method, which is effective and practical, but I can put it aside to use other techniques if the client doesn't resonate with it.

Gestalt Therapy was founded by Fritz Perls. It is based on dealing with issues in the present. So, for example, rather than someone talking "about" their feelings about a deceased loved one, the Gestalt approach has them put the person in an empty chair and speak to them as if they are there. This cuts through the intellectualization of what's going on, and gets to the feeling level. The feeling level is where a lot of the action is in terms of resolving problems and moving forward.  Another example of Gestalt approach is dealing with guilt.  Perls' idea was that there are two kinds of guilt - guilt that comes from something we actually did wrong, and neurotic guilt in which we feel  guilty but we didn't do anything wrong. With neurotic guilt, we have the person speak to the person they feel guilty towards and start sentences with "I resent" and finish each sentence with something else they resent.  After they get all the resentments out, guess what?  They don't feel guilty any more.

There are so many practical aspects to Gestalt, and the beauty of it is that it helps people get clarity and  see a way forward. 

Gestalt Dream Work

Perls' dream approach is based on the premise that every symbol and dynamic in a dream is significant and represents some aspect of the dreamer.  We have the person tell the dream in the first person, present tense, as if it's happening now.  The dream therapist attunes to the energy as the person tells the dream, and then guides the person into "being" different aspects of the dream, and giving voice to different aspects. This all sounds very abstract to write about it but it works. 

I have helped people with one dream, several dreams, recurrent dreams and other expressions of the subconscious such as art.  I can also help people who say they don't dream, to increase awareness of their dream life. And I am happy to teach small groups.

Intuitive Development and Guided Imagery and Alignment With Our Ideals

I enjoy helping people develop their intuitive imaginative side, as I've got a good dose of this in myself and have cultivated it over the years.  Sometimes we run into philosophical differences with our own selves. For example we may want to apply 'forgiveness' to different people, but we can't get there because of our anger or resentment. Working the feelings through in counseling can help us figure out how to get to forgiveness, or to give it up and not pressure ourselves before ready.  

Fees and Such

I don't file insurance but I will give you a receipt.  

Employee Assistance Programs - provide free, confidential counseling to employees. I may have a contract with your EAP.

My fee for counseling is $100.  Cash or check only. 

Call for an initial free consultation to decide if we are a good fit for counseling. 520 203-4968 text or call