About "Real Me Therapy" - My philosophy and approach
"Real Me Therapy" is named so because of my beliefs and approach. I have long disliked the idea of going to therapy in order to "change." Sure we want the situation to change - to get better. My belief is that who we are has become covered up or hidden - for a number of reasons - unhealthy relationships, emotional neglect, addiction, trauma, etc. So it is in fact that discovery - or rediscovery - of who we are that we need. It is finding out and getting back to who we genuinely are - only then do we live authentically. Only then can we see our way through. Don't change into someone else. Tap into your own resources - your own strengths. Rediscover who YOU are and be that fully.
I specialize in issues that may show up in adolescence - such as identity, self esteem, attachment, depression, loneliness, personality disorders, sexuality, self harm, thoughts of suicide, relationships - and then as adults we experience the fall out of those unresolved issues. We'll talk in a way which enables us to gain insight and awareness about what’s going on in your life so that you can find your way through. This allows you to live more fully into who you really are and get to the other side of the challenges you are facing - which come to us all at some point.
Those challenges might be making tough decisions, dealing with difficult relationships, depression, anxiety, loneliness, needing/wanting better communication, life transitions, substance abuse, trauma, or loss of various kinds – death, divorce, or illness. Trauma can be a one time event AND it can also be hard to notice in that it can be ongoing circumstances - even from long ago - that caused you to cope in ways that are now getting in the way of living your life now - getting in the way of your own happiness, in the way of relationships. Sometimes you don’t even know exactly what’s going on – it may be hard to put into words - you just know that you want it to be better. Even in situations where we had "a good childhood" - it can still feel like something is missing in you and you don't exactly know what it is.
"Real Me Therapy" is named so because of my beliefs and approach. I have long disliked the idea of going to therapy in order to "change." Sure we want the situation to change - to get better. My belief is that who we are has become covered up or hidden - for a number of reasons - unhealthy relationships, emotional neglect, addiction, trauma, etc. So it is in fact that discovery - or rediscovery - of who we are that we need. It is finding out and getting back to who we genuinely are - only then do we live authentically. Only then can we see our way through. Don't change into someone else. Tap into your own resources - your own strengths. Rediscover who YOU are and be that fully.
I specialize in issues that may show up in adolescence - such as identity, self esteem, attachment, depression, loneliness, personality disorders, sexuality, self harm, thoughts of suicide, relationships - and then as adults we experience the fall out of those unresolved issues. We'll talk in a way which enables us to gain insight and awareness about what’s going on in your life so that you can find your way through. This allows you to live more fully into who you really are and get to the other side of the challenges you are facing - which come to us all at some point.
Those challenges might be making tough decisions, dealing with difficult relationships, depression, anxiety, loneliness, needing/wanting better communication, life transitions, substance abuse, trauma, or loss of various kinds – death, divorce, or illness. Trauma can be a one time event AND it can also be hard to notice in that it can be ongoing circumstances - even from long ago - that caused you to cope in ways that are now getting in the way of living your life now - getting in the way of your own happiness, in the way of relationships. Sometimes you don’t even know exactly what’s going on – it may be hard to put into words - you just know that you want it to be better. Even in situations where we had "a good childhood" - it can still feel like something is missing in you and you don't exactly know what it is.
- Marriage & Family Therapist, License # 1801
- Member of American Associate of Marriage & Family Therapists, since 2012
- Member of North Carolina Association for Marriage & Family Therapists, since 2012
- Member of International Association for Trauma Professionals, since 2016
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
- Associate Professor of Psychology, since 2001
- Member of North Carolina Community College Faculty Association, since 2005
- Certified Prepare-Enrich therapist
- IFS trained (Internal Family Systems)
- Member of IFS Self Leadership
- EMDR trained for trauma (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
- Member of EMDRIA
- EFT Trained (Emotionally Focused Therapy)
- Member of ICEEFT
- Gottman trained
- Faculty Senator, 2011-2018
- M.A. Marriage & Family Therapy, 2014
- M.S. Education, Educational & Psychological Studies, 1998
Real Me Therapy Inc. 523 Keisler Dr., Ste. 103 Cary NC 27518 (919) 610-9229