Sensible and down-to-earth mental health counseling, EMDR, and IFS therapy for anxiety, depression, addiction, and trauma. In this video, you will see Dakota working on a memory she had from when she was a teenager. The memory is one of a cluster of similar memories in which her mother would lose control of her emotions and call Dakota irresponsible and forgetful, causing her to feel panicked and stressed.
This memory, and other similar memories over the course of many years, linked the feelings of panic and stress to any time she perceived she had made a mistake, was irresponsible, or was forgetful. Even small, inconsequential mistakes could cause Dakota to cycle through long bouts of stress, anxiety, and self-criticism. This made it hard to feel like her adult self and she often described feeling like the same child who her mother yelled at when similar situations happened in her current day life.
EMDR has helped her stay grounded in her adult self and she can remind herself that she is allowed to make mistakes, can learn from them, is a good person, and is able to move on with her day without being consumed by stress and panic.
This memory, and other similar memories over the course of many years, linked the feelings of panic and stress to any time she perceived she had made a mistake, was irresponsible, or was forgetful. Even small, inconsequential mistakes could cause Dakota to cycle through long bouts of stress, anxiety, and self-criticism. This made it hard to feel like her adult self and she often described feeling like the same child who her mother yelled at when similar situations happened in her current day life.
EMDR has helped her stay grounded in her adult self and she can remind herself that she is allowed to make mistakes, can learn from them, is a good person, and is able to move on with her day without being consumed by stress and panic.
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Your relationship with your therapist is unlike any other relationship.
The typical expectation is that you drive to an office, talk, and divulge personal information with a stranger.
As a therapist (and a client of therapy), I know what it's like to step into a therapist's office to explore a problem and feel shame, embarrassment, or frustration.
I love working with people who want to learn how their past affects the present because I have been there myself.
I know how exhausting it is when you try every trick in the book to feel better but get no results.
The typical expectation is that you drive to an office, talk, and divulge personal information with a stranger.
As a therapist (and a client of therapy), I know what it's like to step into a therapist's office to explore a problem and feel shame, embarrassment, or frustration.
I love working with people who want to learn how their past affects the present because I have been there myself.
I know how exhausting it is when you try every trick in the book to feel better but get no results.
I too have stepped into the office of a therapist as a client, myself, and I know what it's like to be exposed, vulnerable, and surprised by being open.
My name is Hope, and I practice alongside Michael because we share similar values of what counseling should be like: simple, sensible, and realistic.
I love working with people who are ready to commit to therapy because committing to all the other things has fallen short.
I, myself, know the feeling of trying to educate myself with lots of readings and seminars, dedicating my routine to prioritize exercise, trying diet, trying boundaries with toxic people and realizing that while all these things are so wonderful for the fulfilling life that I want, they are not enough to heal my nervous system, not the way EMDR can.
My name is Hope, and I practice alongside Michael because we share similar values of what counseling should be like: simple, sensible, and realistic.
I love working with people who are ready to commit to therapy because committing to all the other things has fallen short.
I, myself, know the feeling of trying to educate myself with lots of readings and seminars, dedicating my routine to prioritize exercise, trying diet, trying boundaries with toxic people and realizing that while all these things are so wonderful for the fulfilling life that I want, they are not enough to heal my nervous system, not the way EMDR can.
It may feel uncomfortable to start counseling and share your story with a total stranger.
It's common to think "this person is going to judge me, so I better tone it down" or "I don't want to freak my therapist out, so I'll leave that detail out of it".
But therapy is the time and place where you can let that all that go.
Nothing is off the table when it comes to improving your own mental health, and we are here to help you conquer it.
Individual counseling is 1-on-1 and tailored just to you.
Most people meet with us in our Fairfax office or virtually from the comfort of their own home or office.
It's common to think "this person is going to judge me, so I better tone it down" or "I don't want to freak my therapist out, so I'll leave that detail out of it".
But therapy is the time and place where you can let that all that go.
Nothing is off the table when it comes to improving your own mental health, and we are here to help you conquer it.
Individual counseling is 1-on-1 and tailored just to you.
Most people meet with us in our Fairfax office or virtually from the comfort of their own home or office.
We participate as a Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) provider because we do not believe traditional alcohol or drug counseling is effective.
Hope and Michael work with you to find, and resolve, the root of what has led you to your situation with alcohol or drugs.
Many clients who are referred through VASAP believe that alcohol or drugs are not the problem, but a symptom of trying to cope with another, possibly unknown, problem.
And, so do we.
If you think we might be a good fit, give us a call (703)919-5543 or send me an email and let's talk.
Hope and Michael work with you to find, and resolve, the root of what has led you to your situation with alcohol or drugs.
Many clients who are referred through VASAP believe that alcohol or drugs are not the problem, but a symptom of trying to cope with another, possibly unknown, problem.
And, so do we.
If you think we might be a good fit, give us a call (703)919-5543 or send me an email and let's talk.
Learn unconventional techniques to help you keep your cool when parenting and how to do repair work with your child when you pop your top.
I like working with people who believe they need anger management.
Sometimes, a family member tells them they need help managing anger and other times they've been court ordered to complete an anger management program.
Regardless, I find individuals who need this type of counseling to have some things in common.
What are the unique mental health concerns of Northern Virginia.
I like working with people who believe they need anger management.
Sometimes, a family member tells them they need help managing anger and other times they've been court ordered to complete an anger management program.
Regardless, I find individuals who need this type of counseling to have some things in common.
What are the unique mental health concerns of Northern Virginia.
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