My Approach
My Approach to Coaching and Psychotherapy
My mission is to create a safe space where clients can be safe to look for solutions together without fear of being judged for engaging in the struggle of problems. How I do this is to co-create awareness through support, playful confrontation, and acting as a catalyst in shifts in organizations, relationships, and the self.
I am, first and foremost, a Systemic practitioner. This means that I do not believe pathology lives within an individual, as no one exists in a vacuum. I know that every client is nested within a system of systems - and focusing on these patterns, connections and dynamics is crucial for how my client lives in the system and the system lives in them.
Donella Meadows’ work in Thinking in Systems (2001) and Fritjof Capra’s The Hidden Connections (2004) were foundational in my work as a Systems Psychotherapist, and they continue to be a common thread in my coaching practice. I adhere to Systemic Thinking principles as described by John Whittington and weave developmental-relational models derived from Eric Berne's Transactional Analysis. I am committed to continuously strive toward understanding connections within relationships and context, and how they affect individual behavior.
In order to be effective systematically, I must be extremely perceptive with the here-and-now of my clients. Therefore, listening closely to words, messages, meta-messages, and body language is essential to my success. With my clients, I continuously cultivate a growth mindset and be a catalyst for new perspectives of looking at old problems. I use lots of open questions for clients to expand the awareness of their own inner world and encourage the use of the here-and-now to try and become aware of dynamics that are brought between us in the “third thing” we make in our relationship.
I am deeply grateful for my years of experience using Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectic Behavioral techniques, (CBT, DBT) with clients because of the hope generated by the concept that long-held perspectives can be mindfully shifted and deep-seated reactivity can be practically managed. A Solution Focused mindset keeps our focus moving forward toward optimal future state and prevents getting re-stuck in chronic problems. I also embrace a cultural equity framework for a fierce support of equity and inclusion within therapeutic relationships, and continuously uphold that the client is inherently the expert of their own system.
With my clients, I use clear contracting with goals, solid ethics, and mindful boundaries, as I understand the pitfalls of complexity within multi-entity systems. I continuously strive to be aware of my own presence with my clients, approach each with a beginner’s mind to sensitively enter their system, and hopefully leave them with empowered awareness and insight toward progress in their goals. Finally, I continually seek feedback and insight from my clients and supervisory group to ensure I mantain an optimal, useful, and healthy presence within a client's system.
“We can't impose our will on a system. We can listen to what the system tells us, and discover how its properties and our values can work together to bring forth something much better than could ever be produced by our will alone.”
