When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters--one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity. -John F. Kennedy

Rather than seeing their "problems in living" as dysfunction or failure, I work to help my clients view their pain as symbols that communicate their personal truth from their deep store of unconscious wisdom.   ~Linda Maxwell~

"There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children... one is roots, the other wings." - Stephen Covey

a child's wisdom...

I began as a preschool director and teacher, and that role prepared me well for my current career. I witnessed the capacity of children to naturally trust, love and learn from, literally, all they encountered. Tiny children, some with severe physical and mental limitations, taught me astonishing lessons in forgiveness, compassion and kindness. Though I was the designated "educator", those children educated me on the vast scope of human potential. 

When the student is ready, the teacher appears.  Asian wisdom

We are all students, and...we are all teachers.

Can therapy help?

Therapy truly can facilitate emotional healing and personal growth, but those aren't the reasons that most people seek counseling.  Most people arrive overwhelmed with pain and confusion, unclear of a direction. Many fear that their problems are so deep and complex that they can never recover. Others hope that the therapist, will have some secret, magic formula that mysteriously "fixes" life.  Neither idea is accurate (sorry about the "no magical powers" part: I wish I had that too). 

Beyond a well developed sense of intuition, (which most people have, to some extent) I have no magic formulas. I do have sound, ongoing training in psychology, excellent listening and observation skills, and enormous respect and compassion for the effort required of  people to live a fulfilling, productive life. 

Women observe subconsciously a thousand little details, without knowing they are doing so. Their subconscious mind adds these little things together--and they call the result intuition.  –Agatha Christie

Perspective is crucially important!

I also have what you can't possibly have when it comes to your own life__  a detached, neutral perspective!  It's challenging for everyone to see their lives with detachment; we're all alike that way. 

I use the metaphor that if you are caught in a cyclone, whirling sickeningly around with the debris of your life, it isn't too likely that you will have a clear view of what direction to take in order to escape! But if I am outside the cyclone, my view is bound to be clearer and more far-reaching than yours. I have the ability to see your situation from outside the chaos, and so map out an escape from the storm. No magic, just a clearer perspective__ combined with years of training, a fascination with human behavior and practice!