Last but not least, owner of the Center for Couples Counseling Erika Labuzan-Lopez is sharing her love of being a therapist. It’s so rare therapists get the opportunity to share parts of themselves with their clients and the world, but the process and reasons for becoming a therapist are so intimate and ingrained in who we are. Trust me, you want a therapist who loves being a therapist, because this work can be draining and exhausting. Without that love, the day to day work of therapy can take a toll. But for me, my soul is fed because I truly LOVE being a therapist. Read this post to get to know more about my why’s.
Read MoreClients so rarely get insight into their therapist’s motivations, passions, and why they became a therapist in the first place, but in our opinion it’s vital to becoming an excellent therapist. Skills and techniques are essential to doing good work as a therapist, but the why’s of becoming a therapist is what makes the real changes in the room. Next up in our series is Jaimi Douthit, Licensed Professional Counseling Associate. Jaimi is a wonderful therapist and person to sit with. She is comforting and nonjudgmental, while challenging your unhealthy thought and behavior patterns in a caring way. She shows up fully for her clients, and you can see that in her blog post sharing why she loves being a therapist. Check it out!
Read MoreThis week we are continuing our series of getting to know more about why each of our therapists absolutely LOVES being a therapist. Learning interventions and therapeutic models is important, but over the years since I (Erika) have been a Supervisor and practicing clinician have come to see that to do really good work, you have to love it. Each therapist I work with at my practice has to not only demonstrate excellent skills, but they have to radiate being completely in love with the art and science of therapy. Next you’ll meet Jennifer Anderson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate. Jennifer’s clients adore working with her as she engages her clients in meaningful introspection, provides constructive feedback, and is willing to walk alongside the hardest moments of her client’s lives. Check it out and get to know Jennifer!
Read MoreThe Center for Couples Therapy website goes into detail about how we work, our methodology, and expectations for therapy, and with this new blog series we wanted to go deeper in sharing who our therapists are and why they really LOVE being therapists! We are passionate about refining our craft, being constant learners, and growing in our skills-but the most important thing you can know about us is we are truly honored and enjoy doing what we do best-providing quality therapy. This week you’ll meet our counseling intern Sky Yeater. Sky is wise beyond her years, an engaging person to sit in a room with, and open to having organic experiences with her clients. Read this blog post to learn more about her why’s-why she does what she does, why she tends towards certain styles, and why she loves being a therapist.
Read MoreI’m continuing to explore the ideas around how relationship clutter is actually getting in your way at the beginning of marriage counseling. Learn the different between first order change (resolutions in the initial problems you’ve come to therapy with) and second order change (the shift in your relationship that heals underlying problems). By getting everything out on the table, your marriage counselor can help you filter through the mess and start working on building skills and focusing on what' really matters. After all, don’t you want an unapologetically amazing marriage? Yeah, me too!
Read MoreWith everything in our lives shifting at a rapid pace, anxiety is at an all time high. People are aware that therapy could help, but are having trouble figuring out how to fit it in or understanding what it will look like as the coronavirus pandemic continues. I’d like to engage everyone reading to take a collective breath, and dive into exploring options for therapy in the midst of an ongoing crisis situation.
Read MoreHave you ever been afraid to ask a stupid question? If everyone else just knows how to do something, what does it mean about you that you don't know how to do it? And even more, what if it's something really simple? This week I'm diving into a personal experience of googling "how to apply lipstick" and diving into the lessons I learned about therapy from this experience. Asking for help can be hard, especially when it's something we feel like we should know. A couple of take aways from my experience, you are not alone (wait until you learn how many results came up from my google search), no one takes what you know and where you are in that process for granted, and gaining support is essential.
Read MoreEver wonder how you should be measuring progress in therapy? How will you know if therapy is working? What are the signs? After all, you don't want to be in therapy forever, so you need to know when it is working, when it's worked, and when it might be time to look at another therapist or treatment option. This post explores some things you will notice as a client if therapy is successful.
Read MoreIn part 1, I discussed common fears people have about going to therapy. In part 2, I'll talk about the 8 reasons to process and overcome those fears, and go to therapy anyway. It can make such an impact on your life. Do the benefits outweigh the risks for you?
Read MoreI hear people tell me all about their fears of going to therapy and reasons why they haven't scheduled that first appointment. It's normal to be apprehensive about therapy, after all, it's a new experience and you'll be talking to a complete stranger about your secrets. In part one, I'll be discussing 4 common fears about going to therapy, and briefly introduce the 8 reasons you should do it anyway.
Read MoreHave you started the process of looking for a therapist? You may think it doesn't matter who the person is, or that it's ok to just pick the first person that has appointments during times you're available. I will explain why it's important to find the right therapist for you, and offer tips about how to do that in this post. Hope you find it helpful.
Read MoreI get asked often if my life and marriage are perfect because I'm a therapist. The short answer is definitely no. In this post I explore more about what it means to have a relationship with a therapist who is human, not perfect, and able to truly understand your pain.
Read MoreHave you ever felt like you and your partner were engaged in DEFCON 5 over what new couch to buy? What was that fight really about? And how do you normally argue with your partner? My guess is, it wasn't really about the couch at all.
Read MoreHave you notice changes in your every day life? Is it difficult to get through normal tasks? Are your relationships strained? There are many reasons that people go to therapy. Don't wait until you are in crisis to get help. Here are 5 signs that counseling may be for you. Life is hard, why not get help making it a little easier?
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