Philosophy of Therapy

At some time or another, most of us find ourselves constrained from living the life we want to be living.  Unexpected stress or loss, mental illness, trauma, family experiences growing up, and socio-cultural influences are but some of the many road blocks that can zap vitality and hinder positive meaning-making and connection in our lives. We can feel trapped by our own emotions and decisions, unsatisfying relationships, or the external pressures and limitations of trying to obtain or maintain basic needs and success. 

The process of engaging in therapy can help you understand the complexity of your problems, work through overwhelming emotions such as anger or sadness, and/or learn new ways of viewing yourself and your world toward enhancing your quality of life. The experience of therapy is unique for each individual: one person may learn concrete coping strategies for managing a particular situation, another may explore deep emotions toward building positive esteem, while a couple or parent and child may heal relational wounds or learn ways to solve problems together.

Therapy offers the distinctive opportunity to say out loud that which is often unspoken, to share with another that which is too burdensome to carry alone, and a therapist’s support and guidance toward re-visioning your life. Therapists best serve their clients through maintaining confidentiality, withholding judgment, honoring client-stated goals for therapeutic work, and following a client’s pace in that work. Therapists facilitate an important cycle of careful listening, asking questions toward increasing understanding, offering insight and feedback, and supporting and challenging clients toward meaningful change. Clients deserve respect, honesty, and the opportunity to develop an authentic connection with the therapist based on a client’s needs.

I believe, above all else, that therapy is about the experience of having a relationship with a therapist who travels with you on your journey toward discovery and change. Regardless of whether the task is to collaborate on problem-solving about an external stressor, correct unhealthy thinking patterns or behaviors, work through conflict or loss, or better understand yourself and significant others – therapy offers a safe place to do this important, and life-changing work.

Amanda Bowers, MS, MFT