Out of Office Experience

Professional therapy for career, family, or relationships. Therapy that fits your schedule ....

I am a licensed clinical social worker experienced in the treatment most mental health problems. Often people realize they need to talk but won't make the time to see a professional until a crisis has erupted. I am making therapy available on your time, at your convenience. Get the expertise and guidance you need to meet the challenges in your life.

Reasons for an out of office experience

• Money. How much does it cost to travel around to errands? If you haven't thought of that, well then consider the  expenses including gas or transportation, car maintenance, parking, and the occasional coffee or lunch out.
• Stress. Breaking up your day to get in your car and drive to an appointment. Dealing with traffic and parking. You don't have to add that to your day. Your appointment can come to you. Simplify your life where you can. Relax with some extra time. 
• Time. Time spent going back and forth to to weekly or bi weekly sessions, grabbing a coffee or lunch along the way can easily add turn a 50 minute appointment into a 2 hour errand. If your appointment comes to you, you can use that time to run your errands or to work on your personal projects, or maybe even get in some well deserved exercise.
• Balance. We may have children we have to pick up from daycare, elderly parents we have to check in on, friends that we're meeting up with after work. When your therapy appointments are close to you, you have one less place to go to, and more opportunity to maintain balance in the rest of your life.

“I've never had a therapist come to my home. I was surprised with how comfortable he made me feel. We clicked right away and he gave me some good tips for managing my anxiety. We practiced several situations that helped me be more assertive with my family, especially my teenage daughter.”

“It was very convenient to meet with a therapist for coffee by my work. I talked about issues at work and he gave me some practical strategies for managing my time better and reducing my stress. He was very comfortable and I saved myself the hassle of having to drive someplace after a full day at the job.”

“I wasn't sure of meeting a therapist out someplace. So we met at my home at first. I felt very relaxed and eventually agreed to meet in public to help address my social anxiety. I was given specific tasks that helped me become more comfortable around people.”

Counseling with a licensed therapist

• Licensed. I have been a licensed clinical social worker in Oregon for over 20 years. I have a rich background of experience and training in assessment, motivation, and finding solutions to help people experience less stress, have greater satisfaction in relationships, and improved motivation and job performance.
• Experienced. Over my career I've worked with individuals and couples, with adults, adolescents and children. I've managed life threatening crisis, helped couples repair  marriages, and guided teens to improved self esteem which help free them from substances and eating disorders.
• Expert advice. My professional interests include resiliency, positive psychology, emotion coaching, and mindfulness practices. I rely heavily on research-based techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and the emerging field of interpersonal neurobiology.
• Affordable. Most people I see have insurance or use their EAP benefits to pay for their therapy, and about one fourth of my clients are self pay. Most symptoms related to self-esteem, anxiety, depression or relationships issues can be significantly improved in 6 to 12 sessions. 

You should consider therapy if ...

1. You've started noticing periods of prolonged frustration or sense of helplessness and sadness, and your problems do not seem to get better despite your efforts and help from family and friends.
2. You may find it more difficult to carry out everyday activities: for example, you are unable to concentrate on assignments at work, and your job performance is suffering as a result.
   
3. You find yourself spending a lot of time worrying, you may be expecting the worst, or you find you are just constantly on edge.
4. Your actions are harmful to yourself or to others: for instance, you are drinking too much alcohol, abusing drugs, or becoming overly argumentative and aggressive.

“The holidays were a disaster. Every year my mother-in-law hijacks the event and everything just falls apart. I dread it, every year. What can I do?”

“I’m doing pretty well at my job. I do software development for a financial services company. It’s pretty intense. I’ve got a presentation in front of the top execs for a big customer. My stomach is in knots when I even think about it. I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”

“My wife is a stay at home mom with our two small kids, she’s very busy with them, and their school, but our relationship feels like it’s slowly disintegrating. It used to be so vibrant. Now we stay at home most of the time and I wonder what happened to the woman I married.”

Treatable on your schedule

Abandonment Issues Abuse Addictions ADD ADHD Agoraphobia Alcohol Abuse Anger Management Anxiety Claustrophobia Children's Issues Cigarette Addiction Conflict Resolution Comfort Eating Cravings (chocolate, cigarettes) Depression Drug addiction Emotional Overeating Emotional Pain Fears Fear of Flying, Spiders etc.

Food Cravings Grief and Loss Guilt Habit Breaking Insomnia Jealousy Limiting Beliefs Negative Emotions Nightmares OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Panic Attacks Painful Memories Performance Anxiety Phobias Trauma (PTSD) Relationship Issues Resentment Stress Victims of Crime Many more...too numerous to mention

Other reasons to consider therapy

1. An outside perspective with applied expertise can balance your own personal bias. When it comes to expanding your own perceptions and perspectives, there is virtually no substitute for another viewpoint, as well as another tank of experiences from which to draw upon.
2. You may not think you “need” therapy, but sometimes it is best. Your own perspective and systematic way of dealing with your daily life may be creating long term issues that are easier to sort out now rather than later. Often the people least willing to talk to a therapist are the most likely to benefit once they actually show up to sessions.
3. Consider the cost of avoiding therapy versus the cost of mental healthcare. Many people believe that the price of therapy is too high and that its worth is too low. For less than the cost of your cell phone plan for a year you can discover there is benefit to be gained in spending time with a therapist, and it is in your best interest to seek it out.
4. Mental exercise is just as important and beneficial as physical exercise to your overall health. Monks and London cab drivers show increased brain activity not seen in people who don't exercise their brains through highly sustained and focused activity. Emotion coaching and attention exercises can train individuals to be more resilient in the face of life stressors. In essence, therapy is just one more way to work out your mind, and to develop skills that can help improve your overall health.

What you can expect

• As you begin therapy, you will establish clear goals with your therapist. Perhaps you want to overcome feelings of hopelessness associated with depression. Or maybe you would like to control a anxiety that disrupts your daily life. Keep in mind that certain tasks require more time to accomplish than others.
• After a few sessions, you should be feeling as though the experience is truly a joint effort and that you and the therapist enjoy a good rapport. On the other hand, you should be open with your therapist if you find yourself feeling "stuck" or lacking direction once you've been in therapy awhile.
• It's natural to question some aspect of your therapy experience. If you find yourself thinking about discontinuing therapy, talk with your therapist. It might be helpful to consult another professional, provided you let your therapist know you are seeking a second opinion.
• It's not unusual to feel a wide range of emotions at different times throughout your therapy. It may be difficult to discuss painful and troubling experiences with your therapist. When this happens, it can actually be a positive sign indicating that you are starting to explore your thoughts and behaviors. You can talk with your therapist about how to approach these topics.
• Spend time with your therapist periodically reviewing your progress, and talk about whether you are concerned that you are not making sufficient headway. Although there are other considerations affecting the duration of therapy, success in reaching your primary goals should be a major factor in deciding when your therapy should end.
• Therapy is often challenging, but clients who are willing to work in close partnership with their therapist often find relief from their emotional distress and begin to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.

What you might not know

• Your insurance will cover treatment by a licensed mental health therapist.
• An employee assistance plan at your work will cover up to 12 sessions at no cost to you.
• Services by licensed healthcare professionals are tax deductible and can help meet your annual deductible.
• Health savings accounts cover the cost of therapy sessions and your cash payment may qualify as a tax deductible medical expense.
• Many treatment issues can be resolved in 8 to 12 sessions. For around what you might pay for an annual cell phone plan you can experience professional counseling with life time benefits.

Disclaimer

• OUT OF OFFICE COUNSELING: Counseling sessions outside of a therapist's office can be effective, but cannot be ensured to be confidential. Reasonable care can be given by the therapist and the client to safeguard privacy during conversations in semi-private spaces outside of the office.  As a client, you agree to review your meeting agenda with your therapist prior to making personal disclosures outside of a private setting such as a home or office.

Have your own out of office experience.

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