Before we start, people often want to know something about how I work. It’s an important question that can be surprisingly hard to answer. Sometimes I think what people are really asking is how it will feel to talk with me. If I will listen well, if I will understand, if I will be able to help. No matter what any therapist tells you, the best way to answer these questions is to try sitting together for a while.
That said, I know that when and with whom to begin therapy is a hard choice. I can tell you that I do my best to listen and provide the kind of therapy that you need, not the kind of therapy that someone else taught me everyone would need. We will work together to develop an approach that is right for you.
In terms of training and techniques, there are three pillars of my approach to psychotherapy:
A relational psychodynamic approach - I’m curious about the history of your relationships with the people and events that have been central to your life. I want to know how they shaped your sense of self and formed patterns that continue to affect your current relationships.
Somatic approaches - I’m attentive to how trauma, anxiety, panic, depression, and other emotions show up in your body. Trauma, in particular, can hijack the nervous system, causing an overwhelming, dissociative stress response. By tuning in to what’s happening in your body through somatic exercises, we can access emotions that are hard to reach with words alone and, gradually, help you reclaim control over your wayward nervous system.
Meditation and mindfulness - I’ll help you practice being present in the current moment, so your mind isn’t always struggling with the past or worrying about the future.
In more personal terms, I try to be patient and calm. I am active in session, I don’t “just sit there,” but I do prioritize what you need to say. I value laughter and empathy. I feel it’s important that I be authentic in our sessions. I try to help you feel safe enough that you can talk about difficult things.
I believe that you are the expert on your own experience. I believe that therapy has to start with an honest and compassionate human relationship. I believe that, if we do it right, this will help you.
CONTACT
To schedule a first session or free consultation:
Email me at waldon.mw@gmail.com
Call or text me at 929.262.0794