Dr. Sam Describes Her Unique Approach To Mental Health and Wellness.
Our uniquely effective and inspiring approach to therapy results from the twenty-five years that I spent as a psychologist working with countless clients to transform their lives. This very different approach was also the result of my own life experience as to what helped me change and grow.
At the Center for Transformation, we do therapy differently, and it shows in our results and the good feelings you will experience from your very first session.
Less Is More: Psychology has traditionally fostered the belief that therapy takes a long time. Yet it is my motto that people should spend only the amount of time they really need to in therapy, and then go back to their vastly improved lives. The process is ordinarily ten sessions, and sometimes even less. Both my therapists and I are extremely active participants in your therapy process, giving ample feedback as we focus on real solutions to your problems.
We Don’t Just Listen: Second, we don’t just sit there while you solve your own problems! The old cliché about the psychologist asking only “How do you feel about that?” to a patient desperate for guidance has been true far too often! Both Cindy and I are extremely active participants in your therapy process, giving ample feedback as we focus on real solutions to your problems.
Good Thoughts Not Bad Feelings: Conventional psychotherapy has paid too much attention to venting negative thoughts and feelings. At the Center for Transformation we believe that the only route to healing and feeling good is to develop better quality thought patterns. Our CBT Plus Counseling Model uses cognitive-behavioral therapy as its starting point but goes a step further to identify positive thoughts which form the foundation of sustained improvement and a happier life over time.
It May Be Your Hormones: Psychotherapy has traditionally drawn a dividing line between mind and body, as though one had nothing to do with the other! Yet modern medical studies of the past three decades continue to prove quite the opposite. At the Center for Transformation we do a thorough review of your medical history for issues that can cause secondary mental health problems such as undiagnosed hypothyroidism, and other hormonal imbalances.
Mind and Spirit: We consider it vitally important to address an individual’s spiritual concerns in counseling and coaching, as these are often critical to healing and building a high quality life and emotional imbalances.
1. You Create Your Own Life, So Own It: How and what you think and the feelings that result from your thoughts create the circumstances of your life. Take 100% responsibility.
2. You Get What You Expect, Not What You Deserve: You may be a great person, but if you continue to interpret circumstances very negatively, negative things will continue to happen.
3. Forgiveness Is For The Forgiver: Forgiveness frees us from the ball and chain of past pain, even when we’ve been abused. It connects us with the rest of humanity because we’ve all made some big mistakes and we’ve all wanted a second chance. Now Is All There Is, The present moment is all we have. Time to stop regretting the past and to stop blaming your parents, your ex and others for your life. Worry is projection about the future, which hasn’t happened yet.
4. Crisis is Opportunity: Frame negative experience by looking at and learning the life lessons therein.
5. Therapy Is Not a Gripe Session: The traditional emphasis on getting bad feelings off our chest in the hopes of getting better simply leads to more bad feelings.
6. Therapy Is a Relationship: Practically everyone has found themselves profoundly frustrated by one of those therapists whose only feedback is the proverbial “How do you feel about that?”. People want and need real answers, and an interactive relationship with a real person who offers useful advice and actionable suggestions.
7. Mind Your Words: The words we use heavily influence the thoughts we think and the feelings we feel. The words “I’ll try” e.g., lead to failure. The words “I intend…” lead to empowered action. Words can likewise minimize negative mood states and amplify positive ones.
8. All The Answers Are Already Inside You: Deep breathing, meditation and affirmations are used to access intuition and bring clients purpose, creativity and joy.
9. Happiness Is a Lifestyle: If you expect to be happy but eat garbage, never move anywhere but from couch to fridge and back, spend most of your time with people who feed on drama, ten years of counseling or coaching won’t help you. Elements such as exercise, nutrition (for you and your brain) and a healthy support network are critical for mental wellness.