Treating the individual as part of a whole being
My philosophy as a treatment provider is built upon my belief that the human experience is comprised of physical, environmental, familial, psychological, and spiritual elements. Therefore, my orientation and approach to treatment addresses the needs of the individual as well as their field of relationships.
I am well versed in a variety of counseling theories, which include Cognitive Behavioral, Existential, Gestalt, Humanistic, and Transpersonal. I draw on a variety of styles and techniques to address the specific needs of each individual. In my approach to working with addictions, I have learned to successfully integrate principals and practices of the twelve step programs and the realm of conventional psychotherapy.
I believe that insights and solutions to individual problems can be found in the living field of the relationship. I refer to this aforementioned field as the dialogical principal. Therapeutic transformation can and will occur when people are willing to suspend their preconceived ideas long enough to examine their beliefs and assumptions about themselves and each other in order to construct more adaptive and enlightened beliefs and behaviors.
I am well versed in a variety of counseling theories, which include Cognitive Behavioral, Existential, Gestalt, Humanistic, and Transpersonal. I draw on a variety of styles and techniques to address the specific needs of each individual. In my approach to working with addictions, I have learned to successfully integrate principals and practices of the twelve step programs and the realm of conventional psychotherapy.
I believe that insights and solutions to individual problems can be found in the living field of the relationship. I refer to this aforementioned field as the dialogical principal. Therapeutic transformation can and will occur when people are willing to suspend their preconceived ideas long enough to examine their beliefs and assumptions about themselves and each other in order to construct more adaptive and enlightened beliefs and behaviors.
Treatment Orientations
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"I have worked with Sam for 15 years for both individual and marriage therapy. He truly offers a great combination of theoretical and practical feedback. Sam always brings in humorous, informative, revealing stories and metaphors that aid in my personal learning and development. Sam's feedback is always very insightful and helpful. His abundant experience is always evident in every therapy session. I was experiencing depression a few years ago and found Sam's compassion and expertise essential in my recovery. One of the most powerful metaphors he used still stays with me today: 'Sorrow is in the shadow of joy'. That metaphor gave me hope and understanding of the cycles of emotions in life. I'm in a much healthier emotional state now and that's a direct result of working with Sam. Because I grew up in an alcoholic family and have taken on some enabling behaviors, it's helpful to get ongoing feedback from Sam on maintaining function in my life. I have worked with other therapists in marriage therapy and have left sessions frustrated because the therapist just listened without any practical advice or challenging questions. I always leave Sam's sessions with a sense of understanding and accomplishment. I am forever indebted to Sam's help and influence on my life." ~ P.