Welcome to my website. Your being here likely means that you already know that something is bothering you or someone you love. There is either something you don’t want, such as:
- Worry, social anxiety, phobias and fears, obsessions and compulsions
- Stress related to over-commitment or lack of assertiveness at work, home, or in relationships
- Low mood or a sense of hopelessness, helplessness, or lack of motivation
- Bad memories/nightmares, avoidance, emotional numbing, and/or sleep, anger, and concentration difficulties after a traumatic experience
- Adjustment, energy, motivation, and/or memory difficulties during or following cancer treatment
And your current coping efforts are not helping you deal with these problems effectively.
Or perhaps there is something that you want such as:
- A sense of balance between purposeful activity and relaxation
- Satisfying, healthy relationships
- Good health, both emotionally and physically
- A sense of vitality and achievement
- Peace of mind
And your current approach is not helping you to achieve these things.
What we do in therapy is work together to change the situation that you are in now. We define what is getting in your way. We consider how to make things better. We develop your skills to make needed changes so that you can achieve what you want.
We discuss how the only real way to change is to work on the things that you can influence. This means your thoughts, your beliefs, your feelings, your choices, your behaviors, and your actions. In our work together we may examine your environment, situations, and relationships, but we will focus on what you can influence. The reality is that you can only influence and make changes within yourself. This doesn’t mean that you can’t change your environment, situation, and relationships – rather, it means that you will be surprised how much these things can change when you focus on making changes within yourself.
My approach to making changes is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on the role of our thoughts in how we feel and what we do. The basic premise is that our thoughts (cognitions) are the primary cause of our feelings and our behaviors. External factors, such as your relationships with others, may be examined and discussed, but to make changes and take charge of your situation, you have to change the way you think. If we can change the way we think, then we can change the way we feel and change what we do.
I can help you to change your thoughts so that your behaviors are consistent with your goals.
Much of our thoughts and beliefs are learned in the context of our culture, our immediate environment, and in our experiences. In short, we have developed automatic ways of thinking based on what we’ve learned, from modeling or experience, to be helpful in our efforts to live happy, healthy lives. Unfortunately, sometimes, our automatic thoughts are based on faulty assumptions or false beliefs, such that what was once developed to help us ends up being unhelpful. In our work together I will challenge you to examine your unhelpful thoughts and beliefs – in short, those that are leading to the negative emotions and unhelpful behaviors that are interfering with your efforts to have a happy, healthy life.
I will challenge you on what you say to yourself, and encourage you to examine how what you say to yourself interferes with your goals and values. Then I will work with you to develop different ways to talk to yourself – different thoughts – that will not interfere with, and even be helpful in, achieving your goals and values and lead to the happy, healthy life you are capable of having.
You may think that some of these descriptions apply to you. You may also want to explore a therapy that focuses on making the changes you want to make in yourself. These changes can help you to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Therefore, you may be ready to take the next logical step and invest the necessary time, effort, and resources in cognitive behavioral therapy with me.
This section outlines all the logistics involved in our working together in a therapeutic relationship, including:
Psychological Services (including types of appointments offered)
Fees and Insurance (including insurance limitations)
Office Policies (including cancellations, confidentiality, privacy, and records)
Treatment Contract and Forms (in downloadable format)
When you are ready to set up an appointment, call me at 603-448-3588 or e-mail me at Karen@Psychologist-NH.com.
I look forward to hearing from you.
