Andrea
has over 30 years' experience as a practitioner and supervisor of others practicing in the Mental Health field, having
held such job titles as Counselor, Family Therapist, Program Director, Clinical Director, and Clinical Consultant.
Currently
and for the past 16 years she has run a thriving solo private practice in which she offers both Transpersonal and Cognitive
Therapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. Therapy,
as defined here, is an opportunity for clients to become acquainted with feelings, thoughts, and patterns of behavior, including
relational patterns, both effective and ineffective, and to challenge themselves to become authentic, living effectively
and happily.
Therefore, authenticity,
choice and meaning are key concepts that will be utilized in the therapeutic endeavor. These concepts assist us
in exploring what is true and what is false in our encounters both with self and other. We may use role play, interactive
and experiential relational dynamics in couples and family therapy,art, poetry, metaphor, story, depth oriented therapy, experiential
dynamic, internal dialogue and/or cognitive restructuring in the therapeutic effort. The length of and the outcome of
therapy is largely a matter of individual client choice. The harder the client works, the better the outcome.
Andrea’s approach is based on the
theory that as children we all learn, through a kind of osmosis of attachment to family and society, to put on certain masks
and costumes, which when used repeatedly become patterns of behavior, thought and feeling. In other words, we have learned
to perform a role. In the process of repeatedly performing this role, we have come to believe that this role is who
we are.
But it is not who we are. We have an Authentic Self which has been sent
out of our conscious awareness and into confinement behind the role we live. Still the Authentic Self
has been speaking to us all along in ways we have often denied, and it more clearly speaks to us when we are in a crisis--whether
that is a relationship crisis or a life crisis. Therapy offers us the opportunity to learn how to
recognize, hear and respond to the voice of our own authenticity calling us home to our own peace.
An
analogy to this view would be the tree, which blows in the sometimes harsh wind that might cause branches crack and break
off. This tree suffers the assaults of humanity as people carve their initials in it and put nails in it
to build tree houses and hold basketball hoops. And it suffers the insult of the seasons through rain,
wind, hail, sleet, snow and ice. Like us, this tree appears to be suffering. But if
you look underground, you’ll find that the roots are doing just fine, thank you very much. In fact,
throughout the tree’s life above ground, these roots have never been wounded, and, indeed, they are
the life source and force for the tree.
We have a part of us that is just
like that. It is wise and strong and has never been wounded. It is the Authentic Self.
It is possible to begin to live out of this part of ourselves. It is possible to shed the role, the mask and the costume
and begin to live in the real. It is possible to learn to formulate relationships, careers, and
all other interactive endeavors from this source--the Authentic Self. Andrea works with clients on the following issues and
more:
- relationship issues--marriage, living together or alternative relationship
- transpersonal concerns
- supportive therapy for
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender concerns
- mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and others
- and unresolved grief
Andrea
is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Counseling Supervisor, a National Certified Counselor, and a National
Board of Certified Counselors' Approved Provider of Continuing Education, with a Doctoral Degree in Metaphysical Pastoral
Counseling.
Andrea is currently accepting new clients. Please contact your insurance company
to learn if her services are covered by your policy. Fees for service are collected at the time of service as cash or check
only.
