|
|
| Hi! I'm Lauren Penn and I'd like to let you know a little bit about myself to help you decide if I'm the right counselor for you. | My Philosophy I believe that a healthy outlook is based on having a good grasp of your ABC's... Accept, Balance, Cope. Let me explain what I mean by that. I have noticed that people often say things like, "I need to let it go," or "I want to move on," or "I need to forgive ____," or something similar. But I have also noticed that we rarely talk about what it means to let go or move on or forgive. I believe that all of those phrases mean accepting that life is what it is--a balance of both good and bad--and making a conscious choice to stop dwelling on things that cannot be changed. If we can figure out how and why we learned to cling so tightly to whatever we are holding onto, then we can learn to change the way we think about it. And then "it" can stop directing our lives--we cope. Of course, this sounds much simpler than it actually is, but it can be done. Whether you need to let go of anger, control, fear, the past, or sadness, I can help! Theoretical Orientation I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), and Narrative Therapy (NT) with my clients. If you are not well-versed in the psychology lingo, here's what this basically means: CBT and RET are based on the idea that how we think strongly influences how we feel and behave, that we have the ability to change the way that we think with practice, and that changes in our emotions and behavior follow naturally from cognitive changes. NT address the stories that we all tell ourselves about how various difficulties affect our lives. Rarely do these stories focus on how we have succeeded in spite of problems. By retelling these stories with a more balanced "narrative,” we can overcome stories that control our lives in negative ways. While CBT, RET, and NT are my primary theoretical bases, I also believe that there is no one type of therapy that works for everyone. It is important to me to use a treatment method that suits your personality, belief system, and needs, and I am experienced in a number of other treatment methods should they be needed. I also know many other providers in the community should you need a type of counseling that I cannot provide. |
|