Pati Anderson, LPC
My treatment philosophy...
We were born trusting our bodies. When we were hungry or hurting or needed attention, we knew it instinctually and we cried or suckled or reached for our caregivers. We were born "good" with bodies and emotions that guided us. And we remain "good at heart" with bodies and emotions that continue to guide us if we trust ourselves and are paying attention. Unfortunately for many of us, this inherent wisdom gets lost during our growing-up years. We are influenced away from our true-selves by well-meaning parents/care-givers, teachers, peer pressure, cultural trends,and society in general. This disconnect from our true-self can be even more apparent if one was abused as a child or experienced a traumatic event. We are told not to be angry, or sad, or scared and we learn that our emotions are not okay. We are told not to cry or laugh or eat particular foods and we learn not to trust our impulses. We are told to be seen and not heard, and we learn that our opinions are not valid. Ultimately, we learn how NOT to trust ourselves; not to trust what our bodies and our emotions are telling us.
Life goes on and as we grow we develop beliefs about ourselves and others: "I'm not ok...There's something wrong with me...Others can't be trusted." Our experiences tend to reinforce our beliefs. Soon these beliefs become stories that spin around and around in our heads - like tapes (or CDs or songs on the IPOD!) that replay over and over and over again. They become facts to us; absolute truths. And guess what? We behave based on our belief system about ourselves, others, and the world around us! As discussed above, we have lost our ability to trust our bodies and emotions. And without awareness of the wisdom we were born with (our bodies and emotions) we are operating from only one source of wisdom: our minds. And our minds don't always give us the whole picture. Real freedom comes when your knowing comes from your thinking AND your emotions. Your body helps to make this link. Learn how to live mindfully, making choices that take into account your body AND your mind AND your emotions. I present you, my client, with the opportunity to reconnect with all of your wisdom...to remember, actually, the wisdom you were born with.
I am a Cognitive-Behavior (CBT) therapist with a special interest and expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). I also draw from a mindfulness-based therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I help people meet their goals by examining the connection between how they think, feel (emotionally and physically), behave, and interact with their surroundings; and by teaching mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. I work with adults in individual and couples therapy. I also conduct skills training groups - a passion of mine.
Therapy will always begin with a thorough assessment, including your reasons for seeking counseling and relevant history. This may take a few sessions. During this process, we will begin to develop our therapy relationship and discuss treatment options. We will work together to define your problems, establish your goals, and develop a treatment plan especially for you. We will utilize extensively researched and proven therapies to treat your unique situation. In my experience, mindfulness skills, meditation practice, and experiential techniques facilitate therapy (and life!), and are key to self-acceptance (try not to judge this statement), the most vital step on the path to lasting change.
© 2011 Optimal You, PLLC
