Beliefs and Biases

As therapists, we are trained to not let our beliefs and biases get in the way of providing effective therapy. It's a nice concept, and we do our best, but we are, after all, human. I believe it is in the best interest of my potential clients to understand how I view the world and what my beliefs are about our place as human beings on this planet. My beliefs and values are rooted in current scientific studies (e.g. neuroscience), theoretical approaches to therapy, and my own life experiences.

• We are born with a natural impulse towards health and healing. That natural impulse gets weakened by negative experiences and can be strengthened when it is nurtured and supported.
  
  
• There is wisdom in all our our behaviors, even the ones that seem incredibly harmful. For example, some people who get overwhelmed by their emotions take drugs to keep their emotions from getting too big. These people aren't usually conscious of the fact that they're "regulating their nervous system overactivation via the use of elicit substances," but that is what they're doing. All of our actions have some purpose, some sanity, even if we are not consciously aware of it. Discovering the sanity can help us to figure out how to get our needs met in more healthful ways.
  
  
• If we knew better, we would do better. Part of the problem is that we have limited our concept of knowing to what goes on in our head. Knowing, in my definition, includes knowing with our bodies and knowing with our wisdom.
  
  
• Therapy is collaborative. I am not here to rescue you, rather I am here to help you learn to draw upon your own resources and to discover your own wisdom. This does not mean that I will always be non-directive in our sessions - there may be times when you need a bit of direction.
  
  
• We can learn how to respond to our environment instead of reacting to our environment. Our environment includes the people in our lives and the situations we are faced with. When we respond, we step out of autopilot. By doing that we gain more freedom, choice, and usually some relief. When we respond rather than react, we step into a place of power in our own lives.
  
  
• Psychotherapy is most effective when our bodies are involved in the process. Everything we know about neuroscience and the nervous system clearly indicates that a body-based approach to psychotherapy is the most holistic and integrative. Part of what makes a body-based approach to psychotherapy effective is that the body doesn't lie. We can convince others and ourselves all kinds of things that aren't true, but the truth will show up in the body. Lie detector tests are an example of how this works. A person can be calm on the outside while lying, but their insides may be speaking a whole different truth.
  
  
• Cognitive change is an important component of behavioral change. The body is important, but so is the brain. Many of us operate our lives under old ideas about ourselves and the world around us that are not true. Updating these beliefs enables new behaviors and a new sense of self.
  
  
• Wounding happens in relationship, and can only be healed in relationship. That's why our therapy relationship is critical to the healing process. Therapy provides a place to try out new behaviors and ways of being while also getting gentle feedback.
  
  
• All people deserve equal and fair treatment. Therapy, like life, does not happen in a bubble. Our cultural factors are inseparable from our experiences in the world. All people deserve the same safe, accepting, and compassionate therapy experiences, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identification, age, religion, size, and physical ability.
  
  
• Culture and society play a large role in who we are and the issues we deal with. Most of our issues aren't just ours alone; they belong to the larger society in which we're a part of. It's a sane response to be crazy in an insane world.

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