I was trained in rendering brief and short term therapy since we all want quick results, as well as managed care. How do I do that? I am interactive with my clients and not just provide “talk therapy”, but rather, we will co-create a plan together to help you achieve positive results. I hold my clients accountable and will assign homework since I don’t believe coming in once a week for 50 minutes is sufficient to alter lifelong patterns. I will give you my input, impressions, and at times, challenge you when those defenses are up, and it may not be comfortable to talk about. At the same time, I will give you the positive regard, reflective listening, and be your cheerleader. I will empower you, not enable you. I’ve been telling my clients since I was 24 years old, “You are the captain of your ship. I am right by your side as your navigator and ultimately, it’s up to you to reach your destination or sink your ship.”
Therapy can be uncomfortable when we are asked to face some repressed memories. It is a journey that will aid us in living a more satisfying, happier, and enriching life. Growth is a lifelong process. I have much respect for those who are willing and courageous to achieve betterment in life.
In my clinical practice since 1993, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Systems. Other orientations I pull upon are Gestalt, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused, and Behavioral Therapy. Why so many theories? We are not all the same, but rather unique. We do not come from a cookie cutter sheet.
I have been treating child abuse since I began as a clinician. What one endures in their childhood, can have lifelong effects onto the individual. I started my career doing much family work in helping parents and their children/adolescents build healthy attachments. In addition, I have been treating substance use among adolescents and adults. I have over 25 years’ experience treating depression, anxiety, marital discord, divorce, family issues, child abuse, trauma, and LGBTQ population.
I tell my prospective clients to “shop around” in finding the “right” therapist for them. As in life, we are drawn to certain people and may not connect with everyone, which is the same in finding the “right” therapist. Feeling understood and safe is vital in establishing the therapeutic alliance. I will keep it “real” with you and be directive and honest.
When I was an adolescent, my goal was to own a corporate travel agency so I can explore the world. While in college, I took my first psychology class and for the first time in my life, I found myself getting good grades. I discovered a strong interest and passion in learning about human behavior. So I quickly changed my major to psychology. Reflecting back upon my childhood, I was always that observer and would people watch. While in graduate school, a high school friend told me, “Lani decided to go pro.” She knew that I was a mini therapist when a teenager. What also inspired me to be a clinician is that children often do not have a voice. In some families, they believe, “Children are to be seen, not to be heard.” Thus, I wanted to be their voice to their parents and advocate. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled extensively around the world, which is a big passion of mine. I find it fascinating to learn about one’s culture, rituals, traditions, etc. Not only have I learned from my adventures overseas, but it has been my clients who have also taken me around the world to learn about their culture. We are all teachers to one another. The most rewarding aspect of my job has always been to see my clients grow and change.
I’ve been in private practice since 1997. I’ve also been training and supervising interns reaching their licensure since 2001, as a clinical supervisor and clinical director for numerous mental health companies. There hasn’t been a time in my career when I first was an intern in 1993 when I haven’t stopped working with clients. I continue to vision myself working with people as their clinician, even though I may be in a rocking chair. I look forward to knowing you and being by your side in your journey to healing and growth.
Individual Therapy
With all my clients, whether be an individual, couples, or family, I assign homework to them to keep therapy “alive” during the week and to think and practice what we are working on in session. I tell my clients that our sessions are the rehearsal and for them to execute the skills we learn in session in their “real life” out there. During the first appointment with all my clients, I conduct a psychosocial assessment to obtain their history, why they are seeking treatment, and define their treatment goals. I will hold my clients accountable and will follow up with them.
Adolescents/Family Therapy
In working with adolescents or children, I always include the parents. I will get to know the child or teen and then bring in their parents. Throughout the course of treatment, parents are always welcome to join us to express their concerns, issues, updates, etc. I may work with the parents to strengthen parenting skills or the parent child dyad. To enhance their relationship, I often ask parents to go on a date with their child/teen. I’ve worked with an extensive amount of parents where they’ve lost control over their teen. My role has been to restore the parental power and to get them back in charge vs their child controlling them. I often invite the siblings to our sessions to gain more insight to their family dynamics. With all my clients, I use humor and my “self” into the room, but will do so more in working with children and adolescents to assist in establishing the therapeutic alliance.
Couples Therapy
I highly encourage for both individuals to be present for our sessions so one does not feel I’m aligned with the one who’s been consistent. I will be proactive with you and keep it strength based. We will do exercises and role play in session. Communication is a common issue for couples seeking treating. We will work on fulfilling each other’s needs/desires, or also known as Love Language.
Therapy can be uncomfortable when we are asked to face some repressed memories. It is a journey that will aid us in living a more satisfying, happier, and enriching life. Growth is a lifelong process. I have much respect for those who are willing and courageous to achieve betterment in life.
In my clinical practice since 1993, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Systems. Other orientations I pull upon are Gestalt, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused, and Behavioral Therapy. Why so many theories? We are not all the same, but rather unique. We do not come from a cookie cutter sheet.
I have been treating child abuse since I began as a clinician. What one endures in their childhood, can have lifelong effects onto the individual. I started my career doing much family work in helping parents and their children/adolescents build healthy attachments. In addition, I have been treating substance use among adolescents and adults. I have over 25 years’ experience treating depression, anxiety, marital discord, divorce, family issues, child abuse, trauma, and LGBTQ population.
I tell my prospective clients to “shop around” in finding the “right” therapist for them. As in life, we are drawn to certain people and may not connect with everyone, which is the same in finding the “right” therapist. Feeling understood and safe is vital in establishing the therapeutic alliance. I will keep it “real” with you and be directive and honest.
When I was an adolescent, my goal was to own a corporate travel agency so I can explore the world. While in college, I took my first psychology class and for the first time in my life, I found myself getting good grades. I discovered a strong interest and passion in learning about human behavior. So I quickly changed my major to psychology. Reflecting back upon my childhood, I was always that observer and would people watch. While in graduate school, a high school friend told me, “Lani decided to go pro.” She knew that I was a mini therapist when a teenager. What also inspired me to be a clinician is that children often do not have a voice. In some families, they believe, “Children are to be seen, not to be heard.” Thus, I wanted to be their voice to their parents and advocate. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled extensively around the world, which is a big passion of mine. I find it fascinating to learn about one’s culture, rituals, traditions, etc. Not only have I learned from my adventures overseas, but it has been my clients who have also taken me around the world to learn about their culture. We are all teachers to one another. The most rewarding aspect of my job has always been to see my clients grow and change.
I’ve been in private practice since 1997. I’ve also been training and supervising interns reaching their licensure since 2001, as a clinical supervisor and clinical director for numerous mental health companies. There hasn’t been a time in my career when I first was an intern in 1993 when I haven’t stopped working with clients. I continue to vision myself working with people as their clinician, even though I may be in a rocking chair. I look forward to knowing you and being by your side in your journey to healing and growth.
Individual Therapy
With all my clients, whether be an individual, couples, or family, I assign homework to them to keep therapy “alive” during the week and to think and practice what we are working on in session. I tell my clients that our sessions are the rehearsal and for them to execute the skills we learn in session in their “real life” out there. During the first appointment with all my clients, I conduct a psychosocial assessment to obtain their history, why they are seeking treatment, and define their treatment goals. I will hold my clients accountable and will follow up with them.
Adolescents/Family Therapy
In working with adolescents or children, I always include the parents. I will get to know the child or teen and then bring in their parents. Throughout the course of treatment, parents are always welcome to join us to express their concerns, issues, updates, etc. I may work with the parents to strengthen parenting skills or the parent child dyad. To enhance their relationship, I often ask parents to go on a date with their child/teen. I’ve worked with an extensive amount of parents where they’ve lost control over their teen. My role has been to restore the parental power and to get them back in charge vs their child controlling them. I often invite the siblings to our sessions to gain more insight to their family dynamics. With all my clients, I use humor and my “self” into the room, but will do so more in working with children and adolescents to assist in establishing the therapeutic alliance.
Couples Therapy
I highly encourage for both individuals to be present for our sessions so one does not feel I’m aligned with the one who’s been consistent. I will be proactive with you and keep it strength based. We will do exercises and role play in session. Communication is a common issue for couples seeking treating. We will work on fulfilling each other’s needs/desires, or also known as Love Language.