Updated Statement About My Practice In Relation To The Covid-19 Virus:
Life may be especially difficult right now, given the global pandemic. Most–if not all–of us have experienced disruptions across all domains of life and we have been stretched in previously unimaginable ways. “Happiness” may seem very fleeting, indeed. To make it even more difficult, our culture has developed the attitude that something called “happiness” should be our default state, even though life is very often hard. Even when we have all of the basic needs of life covered and we are healthy, we all face difficult transitions, experience frightening situations, and often feel at the mercy of forces beyond our control. This reality of life as a human being may be amplified exponentially with various levels of social distancing and isolation we are experiencing now.
To maintain safety and flexibility, I invite you to join me for *teletherapy online* using a HIPAA-secure application. I have used this method for most of my time practicing psychotherapy, and I also have 13+ years of experience teaching online, which is very similar to doing online therapy. So, I am ready to support you with your mental health challenges. Depending on the situation, we can also discuss the possibility of meeting in person as well as engaging in outdoor or nature therapy.
My philosophy is that much of our depression, anxiety, grief, anger, shame, and other mental states result from some kind of transition—a shift in how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us, which is likely exacerbated now. All human beings experience loss and change—marriage and or divorce; the death of loved ones; pregnancy, miscarriage, birth, or stillbirth; spiritual searching; graduation; moving from one place to another; natural disasters; chronic illness, and any number of others.
Some transitions can be exciting and hoped for (for example, marriage or graduation), while at the same time being sources of stress. (What will this be like? What do I do now?) Other transitions can take our breath away by their sheer brutality (for example, being the victim of personal violence, or the death of a child, sibling, or parent). A big part of a transition is a shift in how we see ourselves—our personal identities.
Life transitions may be planned, or they can take us by surprise, such as what happened when one of my precious daughters died in 2015. At that time, I was privileged to be able to immediately seek out a therapist who could support me as I walked through this sudden and dramatic transition. As a result of this difficult family experience, I became a therapist out of a desire to support others as they navigate their own personal transitions.
Regardless of the source of change, you easily can have trouble dealing with it, and that difficulty can be made worse by not having access to mental health care. Everyone deserves this kind of support, and I am a part of Open Path to make sure you get it. *I currently charge $60/session for all Open Path clients.*
My journey as a therapist is also certainly the result of almost 20 years of academic work as a student and university professor. I have an undergraduate degree in Education from the University of Houston (1978), and a master’s (2002) and Ph.D. (2012) in Religious Studies from Arizona State University, where I have taught *secular* religious studies classes for the last 15 years. I went back to school in 2016 to earn a Master of Social Work (2018) from ASU, precisely so I could do this work while continuing to teach full time at ASU.
This education and experience also led me to a special interest in the connections between religion or spirituality and mental health. While I do not provide religious counseling, I have a deep intellectual and personal understanding of how religion operates in people’s lives. This focus allows me to provide an expanded level of support to my ideal client: individuals experiencing difficulties in relation to their religious identity. Examples include conflicts related to gender issues, uses of power and authority, mixed-faith marriages and or relationships with others who are strained because of a faith change, etc. I also am committed to incorporating spirituality practices in a client’s therapy, if that is what you wish. While I have experience and knowledge of most major religions, my therapeutic specialties include Mormonism and other Christianities and various Contemporary Paganisms.
Regardless of the issues that bring you into therapy, I commit to being an empathetic and compassionate collaborator as we explore solutions that will help you move toward—rather away from—the people and things that matter most to you. To that end, I primarily practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Geek Therapy, Superhero Therapy, cognitive restructuring, and I teach DBT skills. Even if you just want someone to listen, I can validate your experience and concerns, walk with you as you cultivate personal growth, and help you learn to deal with difficult emotions. You will grow and change by participating in activities that involve learning mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and personal effectiveness skills to help deal with the difficult situations you face.
In my personal life, I am extremely happily married, have five adult children, eight fabulous grandchildren, and two cats. I love traveling (especially with family and for music), sailing, films, video gaming, and the great outdoors; and I am persistently hungry for new knowledge and an enhanced understanding of the world and how it works.
[I am licensed by the state of Arizona (license LMSW-17582) for Supervised Private Practice, and I am under the direct supervision of Tandie Myles, LCSW, IMH-E (III), RPT/S, who is licensed and approved by the state of Arizona to provide supervision.]
