There are many schools of thought surrounding the best “technique” for therapy in San Diego. There are fads in the school of therapy just as there are with most other disciplines. When I approach working with an individual, I think first of the person and second about the technique. What I mean is I don’t attempt to fit an individual to a technique, but I fit a technique to an individual. And, usually there is not just one, but several techniques and theories I utilize when working with clients. Each individual is comprised of a unique combination of circumstances, characteristics and personality, and my job is to try and determine the best therapeutic approach and set of tools to offer.
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Some of the major theories I draw from are the following: Client-Centered, the BioPsychoSocial model, Solution Focused, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Existential model, Attachment theory and Strength-Based models. Of course, there are more. They all have something valuable to offer and my belief is they are most valuable when a therapist knows when and with whom to use them.
In addition to the in-office sessions, I also offer homework to clients in between sessions. This could be in the form of reading, reflecting, experimenting with new behaviors, observing unhealthy behaviors more closely or communication exercises. Again, the homework depends upon the individual, their situation and their goals.
In sum, I draw from a wide range of theoretical approaches and combine them with tailored homework exercises. I then offer those to each client based on their particular situation, personality, aptitudes, and limitations. If my client ever feels I’m missing the mark, I definitely want to know about it. My counseling in San Diego is collaborative, and if I’m offering something that doesn’t’ feel right, I respect that and always want the opportunity to adjust and offer something more useful.