Schema Therapy rests on the theory that people have conceptual ideas about common human experiences, such as relationships. Early childhood experiences, some of which can be maladaptive, affect these schemas. Schemas affect how people think about themselves and how they think about themselves in relationships with others.
Your therapist will ask questions about your childhood and how you form relationships, specifically if there were any attachment injuries (such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, or other types of trauma with your primary caregivers).
Schema Therapy recognizes that your emotions correspond with how you relate to others. Your maladaptive schemas can also be affected by the particular environment in which you experienced your formative years.
Your therapist will then ask about your current patterns of relating and how you form relationships as an adult. The goal is to identify and explore how these maladaptive schemas affect you in your present life and replace them with more positive ways of relating with others.
Are you feeling stuck and don't know where you turn in life? Are you feeling emotionally or physically disconnected from your partner? Are you overtaken by grief? Is your family falling apart or full of conflict? Tired of struggling with substance use issues or unhealthy connections with others? Our team is dedicated to helping you move forward in your life by making healthy choices, creating a...
I help people heal from painful past experiences and move towards a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose. Do you currently find yourself feeling not good enough, unlovable, worthless or powerless, believing you are unable to fully trust people, questioning if you really matter to others? I offer support and validation in a non-judgmental healing environment where we explore your...
Everyone has the potential for love, security, peace and happiness. If you are not enjoying those four areas of life, a brief phone call can change all that. As The Trauma Expert, I am able identify traits, feelings, fears and thought patterns that may be attracting or causing repetitive stressors to appear in your life. Our work is a combination of authentic listening, observation, validation ...
Melissa focuses on providing a safe, healing environment while utilizing a client-centered and strength-based approach. This ‘client first’ focus speaks life into what clients are doing well, emphasizes the human to human connection, and builds a strong therapeutic relationship. Client care is individualized by using a variety of tools, skills, and interventions to meet clients’ diverse needs a...
I have 30+ years experience as a teacher, researcher and substance abuse professional. I have been on faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, I train and supervise psychotherapists. My clients come from all walks of life and have indicated what they most like is my client-centered focused approach to treatment offering the be...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS: IN LIFE YOU NEED EITHER INSPIRATION OR DESPERATION: I challenge you to take this opportunity to take action acquiring the life you want, deserve and desire. I believe there is no effort without error and shortcoming. I invite you to engage in the worthy cause of becoming who you were destined to become. The hope being they know, in the end, the triumph of high achievement...
Your strengths identify who you are. Your unique needs can be addressed in a safe, collaborative environment and you can learn to communicate in ways that help you get what you need in your relationships; whether personal or with business associates. Anxiety and negativity can prevent you from engaging with others. Learning about your needs and becoming aware of your thinking patterns is crucia...
I work with clients ages 12 and up, and have experience counseling those with depression, anxiety, personality disorders, addiction and substance abuse, and personality and bipolar disorders. I am passionate about helping people work through the variety of issues that keep them from thriving in life. I have received training in how trauma affects the body and Polyvagal Theory. Additionally, I h...
Currently, I am accepting new clients! My goal is to guide you on a path of hope so that you reach a place of peace. Working as a team, we will develop a plan that is based upon your individual strengths and needs. I work with clients of all ages but specialize in working with children, adolescents, families and adults. I help my clients learn to cope with ADHD,anxiety, high functioning autism,...
I work best with couples, relationships, PTSD and those who "rage against the dying of the light." My area of expertise consists in helping with difficulties in relationships & social relationships. Such difficulties include finding and sustaining healthy intimacy, healing from a painful break-up or divorce, school-related problems, recovering from major loss, and growing up in difficult...
I believe that therapy can be a powerful tool to help you navigate the many challenges of adult life. Our emotions can be complicated and may feel confusing or even overwhelming when trying to tackle them alone. In my practice I offer a safe, supportive space to examine your feelings and to explore and learn from the conflicts that keep you stuck. As a therapist I seek to provide a warm,...
Feeling alone? Empty? Awkward? Anxious? Ever wonder when the pain will end? Maybe you're single, on the verge of becoming single, or coupled but the happiness is gone. Ever think you're destined to be rejected, abandoned, anxious, or depressed indefinitely? Yes, I get it. I've struggled too! Life can be really tough so it's natural to need a person in your life who will validate those feelings,...
Sometimes we move into a season of life where we realize something needs to change. We don’t always know what that change is, but we sense that without it, we may not be able to move forward. Therapy is the exploration and healing of that season of life. We have a tendency to repeat old patterns that don’t get us to our goal, but struggle to come up with a different path. This doesn’t mean ther...
Are you thriving in your life? Do your pursuits fulfill you, or make you second guess yourself? Perhaps you're caught in constant comparison to your peers. I specialize in helping individuals get past these common hurdles - the ones that hold you back from living a more meaningful life. Whether you are looking to resolve core issues, or trying to achieve balance between work, love and play, peo...
