My Boulder Counseling And
Psychotherapy Approach for Individuals (FAQs)

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Here you fill find answers to common questions about my Boulder Counseling and Therapy Practice for individuals.

1. What are some potential benefits of therapy?

2. What are some of the issues you typically work with?

3. I've never seen a licensed professional counselor; what can I expect?

4. How would you describe your Boulder psychotherapy approach?

5. What theoretical approaches do you work from?

6. Do you offer individual psychotherapy by phone?

7. How is psychotherapy different than life coaching?

8. How frequently do people come in for psychotherapy and for how long?

9. Do you offer free consultations and what are your rates?

What are some potential benefits of therapy?

Benefits vary individual to individual. Aside from symptom relief, subjectively, clients may report positive experiences in the following areas...

A greater sense of ease, relief and wellbeing within oneself.
Freedom to be oneself in close and intimate relationships.
Greater clarity, confidence and courage to pursue what they value most in life.
More inspiration and productivity in the most meaningful areas of their lives.
Joy and emotional freedom in situations they hadn't experienced before.
A deeper understanding of the roots of their struggles, and freedom and strength to move forward.

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What are some of the issues you typically work with?

Some of the issues addressed in my Boulder counseling and psychotherapy practice may include...

Interpersonal/relationship struggles
Grief and Loss
Depression
Anxiety
Major Life Transitions

Individuation and Life Direction
Self-esteem issues
Loss of meaning
Working with a myriad of human difficulties in a psychological context (such as fear, worry, doubt, shame, guilt etc).

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I've never seen a licensed professional counselor; what can I expect?

For individuals I offer a free 20 minute phone consultation. This gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about my Boulder counseling practice, share a bit about what you're looking for, and give you a sense of whether or not you would like to schedule an initial session.

In the first session we'll take a few minutes to go over your rights as a client, my disclosure statement, and the confidential nature of psychotherapy. The first session is an opportunity to share who you are and what brings you in, and a time for me to get to know you and your situation. A portion of the session will be dedicated to going over an initial client-intake about your background. This initial session will give you a sense of whether or not you would like to continue coming in and an opportunity for me to share my thoughts on whether working together appears to be valuable.

Whether you come in for short term or long term therapy, throughout the process we'll both have an opportunity to check in about your progress and therapeutic goals. Most clients come to a place when they know their work is complete and either wrap up, take a break, or come in less frequently. All this is up to you, and you are welcome to end therapy at any time.
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How would you describe your Boulder psychotherapy approach?

Psychotherapy is a powerful process assisting you in removing the unconscious emotional obstacles keeping you from the fulfillment of what is most dear to you. The central focus is on healing and wholeness. No two clients are alike, and therefore no specific formula or approach can be applied to everyone.

My work as a psychotherapist can be classified as integrated, psychodynamic and eclectic. In essence, the specific theoretical context or approach that dominates throughout the process is determined by you - your values, needs and intentions for seeking out counseling.

In general, psychotherapy is a relational process in which you have an opportunity to discover and release painful emotional obstacles and unconscious belief systems contributing to your present experience or difficulties while you simultaneously take steps toward growth and deeper fulfillment.
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What theoretical approaches do you work from?

The advantage of practicing psychotherapy today is the vast well-spring of knowledge available to therapists. In addition to present day humanistic and marriage/family counseling approaches, I have great respect for fundamental principles of psychoanalysis, and its contributions to our understanding of the structure and defense mechanisms of the ego.

I also greatly respect the work of the analyst, Carl Jung, and his immeasurable contributions to our comprehension of the human spirit, the value of dreams and symbols, and the collective archetypes influencing mankind. Jung is credited as the Father of present day transpersonal psychology, and is a strong influence on my approach.

I may draw from the work of psychiatrist David R. Hawkins, whose 50 year background in psychiatry and psychoanalysis together with his exhaustive work on the nature of human consciousness, healing and recovery all prove quite valuable.

Finally, I also may draw on a number of mindfulness-based and contemplative approaches to counseling and psychotherapy.

Ultimately, the theoretical orientations employed are determined by the client's needs, intentions and values.
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How is psychotherapy different than life coaching?

Psychotherapy and life coaching are very similar in many respects. An effective psychotherapist and life coach are both skilled in listening, "being with" and accepting whatever arises in sessions, and are deeply committed to the wellbeing and innate goodness and potential within their clientele. They care equally about their clients goals for seeking help and listen for what is most significant to them. They also may share similar assumptions about their clients' potential; that the answers, healing and strength to reach their goals comes from within the individual seeking support. Both processes, too, are intrinsically inspirational.

Aside from ethical and professional differences in each profession, some of the greatest differences are largely qualitative. The process that dominates in psychotherapy seems to be one of healing and renewing a sense of wholeness within the psyche and life of the client. It is especially equipped to assist clients in overcoming unconscious impediments to mental health and wellbeing and is a safe place to approach and heal shame, guilt and fears that may not surface in a life coaching context. The process of psychotherapy and counseling is also especially well-equipped to lift people out of painful and limiting bouts of depression, anxiety and destructive or unfulfilling relationship patterns.

Life coaching tends to attract clientele with a specific desire to achieve tangible results in meaningful areas of their lives. While a life coach certainly works with the inner life and emotional process of their clients they are also engaged in assisting their clients in fulfilling their potential via clarification of life vision and the corresponding implementation of goals, strategies and accountability to assist in the realization of one's vision. Qualitatively, it is a very activating process in which the central focus is on assisting clients in tangibly expressing what is most meaningful to them while simultaneously addressing and releasing inner obstacles that surface in the coaching process.

If you have more questions about the differences between psychotherapy and life coaching as I see it, please feel free to contact me. A free consultation is often a great way to get a sense of which is right for you.

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Do you offer individual psychotherapy by phone?

Yes, depending on the context. For more info, please visit my phone-sessions page.

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How frequently do people come in for psychotherapy and for how long?

I have worked successfully with individuals for a brief period, in which counseling or psychotherapy was sought to assist in overcoming a specific issue or to gain clarity in a key area of life. I have also worked with individuals for many months to years.

Typically, people will come in weekly for a period of time (brief or long term) and then finish. Others may shift to coming in every two to four weeks. After an initial period of counseling (brief or long term), many people value having an impartial professional who knows them well and serves as a resource to turn to on a less frequent basis.
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Do you offer free consultations and what are your rates?

Yes. I offer free 20 minute consultations by phone and am available to meet in person. If we decide to move forward from there I'll send you an intake form to be filled out prior to your first session. If you have any other questions about my Boulder psychotherapy and counseling practice or would like to get started please feel free to contact me about my boulder counseling practice. Click here for my rates and office location.

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My Boulder psychotherapy practice location:

1634 Walnut Street, Suite 111C
Boulder, CO 80302

Also serving the following Colorado cities and towns:
Arvada, Alma, Aurora, Bennett, Black Hawk, Brighton, Broomfield, Castle Rock, Centennial, Central City, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Commerce City, Dacono, Denver, Englewood, Evergreen, Federal Heights, Firestone, Fort Lupton, Frederick, Georgetown, Glendale, Golden, Greeley, Greenwood Village, Idaho Springs, Kiowa, Lafayette, Lakeside, Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Morrison, Mountain View, Niwot, Northglenn, Parker, Sheridan, Superior, Thornton, Westminster and Wheat Ridge.

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My Boulder Counseling And Psychotherapy Approach for Individuals (FAQs)