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Philosophy
Therapy is about providing people with the right tools and context to make changes in their lives. Symptoms occur when people don't believe they have any choices. Treatment goals are formed and outlined during initial sessions, and revisited as needed.
Working with Adults
With adults, the process of change starts with helping them understand the power that past socialization plays in one's life. Childhood experiences often unconsciously affect perception, attitude, relationships and career choices. Basic childhood triggers are uncovered, as they relate to current issues. Positive resources are retrieved when possible. Treatment focuses on teaching clients to associate new frames of reference to these old tapes. Seeing things from multiple angles gives clients a chance to shift how they frame life events, and larger ways of conceptualizing what a "problem really is" to begin with. Seeing more than one point of view, without getting too emotionally attached to it can be very helpful and useful for all people.
Working with Children and Adolescents
Kids need counseling that starts "where they are at", and then gradually moves them towards new ways of experiencing the world. The majority of children that show negative symptoms want to develop new coping skills and learn to manage their emotions. The problem is that children are not always capable of processing the underlying dynamics of their behavior. Kids express emotions as behaviors; many of which get them into trouble. Clinically, most behavior is purposeful and represents a deeper symptom that needs to be addressed.
Typically, kids benefit from feedback that is non-threatening, encouraging and supportive. Music therapy, play therapy, indirect suggestions, and story metaphors are employed to provide powerful feedback loops, while minimizing defensive emotional reactions. As one child put it, "you help me see why I get in trouble, and I still like coming here."
Counseling helps kids gain a sense of mastery and creates a context for them to begin to experience different ways of processing their own behavior. Helping kids claim positive experiences they have in counseling and integrate them with family, friends, and school is essential to change. I find that most children are very interested in developing new self-image thinking that they can take with them after they leave my office.
Working with Couples
Many couples show extremes of both loving each other, and being extremely angry at each other. Obviously these are two very conflicting emotions occurring simultaneously. Helping couples find a "middle third" point in the relationship motivates them to begin to see how to develop new alternative ways of interacting with each other.
Most couples initially seek counseling to stop negative destructive patterns of interaction. Some want to learn to communicate at a higher level; others want to learn to relax and enjoy life together. And still others are looking for ways to end anxiety and depression. Jim's approach is steeped in education as learning new skills is one of the quickest ways available to help people get "un-stuck" and beginning to move forward.
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