After 28 years of working as a therapist, I have come to the conclusion that the “why” behind maladaptive behaviors is not always as important as the “what” you can do to change them. Understanding negative and destructive patterns can provide enormous insight but does not always translate into change.
Through a personal and professional need, I started Thriving Not Surviving in Los Angeles, CA to assist others in navigating the difficult yet profound process of transformation. Releasing the past, acceptance, healing trauma, finding purpose, taking action and transformational coping are critical elements in my approach to growth, change and recovery.
In my practice, I incorporate traditional aspects of humanistic psychotherapy, EMDR, trauma resiliency, attachment theory, cognitive behavioral techniques and 12-step work. I am EMDR-trained and trauma-focused, I specialize in addiction and have worked with teens, individuals, couples and families as well as in business settings. I have also created a niche in working with couples in recovery with a focus on attachment and emotional regulation. EMDR with couples is also a focus to further support emotional co-regulation and attachment issues.
I work with people in Los Angeles through all stages of recovery as well as helping people to heal from trauma, achieve goals, work through codependency issues, change negative thought patterns/behavior, and live their lives to the fullest. If you are struggling with an addiction or feel your life is not where you want it to be, Thriving Not Surviving could be a beginning to a life you could not have planned for yourself.
How do you know if Thriving Not Surviving is right for you? Here are some questions to consider:
Are you thriving or surviving?
Do you use substances or negative behaviors to escape and/or not deal?
Do you have unresolved trauma?
Does your life feel like it has a purpose? Do you want it to?
Do you repeat the same behavior over and over expecting different results?
Do fear or resentments dominate your life?
Do you struggle with codependency issues?
Are your relationships healthy and meaningful?
Do you feel disconnected? Numb? Going through the motions?
What brings you joy?
Do you have a spiritual practice or connection to something greater than yourself?
Are you able to be of service to others?
If some of these questions spark something in you and you are ready to collaborate on the next phase of your growth, consider Thriving Not Surviving as a step in a new direction. There is a solution, change is inevitable and obstacles are just opportunities for growth.
"It is not the strongest of species that survive nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change."
—Charles Darwin—