My Approach
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, person-centered counseling style designed to help individuals explore and resolve ambivalence about behavior change. It is grounded in empathy, active listening, and a non-judgmental approach that supports autonomy and empowers individuals to find their own motivation for change. Rather than confronting resistance directly, MI seeks to elicit and strengthen a person’s own reasons for change through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations. It is commonly used in healthcare, addiction treatment, and mental health settings to support lasting behavioral change.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Similarly, techniques from CBT are used. Cognitive-behavioral therapy stresses the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. It is based on the belief that thoughts, rather than people or events, cause our negative feelings. The therapist assists the client in identifying, testing the reality of, and correcting dysfunctional beliefs underlying his or her thinking. The therapist then helps the client modify those thoughts and the behaviors that flow from them. CBT is a structured collaboration between therapist and client and often calls for homework assignments. CBT has been clinically proven to help clients in a relatively short amount of time with a wide range of disorders, including depression and anxiety.