I believe that the essence of our human nature is creative and needs relational and expressive communication. We seek expressivity in all aspects of our being, including difficult and/or traumatizing situations. We creatively adapt to life’s challenges and find creative strategies to survive its traumas. However, these adaptations also effect our thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions, and can be reflected in psychological and physical symptoms. I believe these symptoms are not pathology, weaknesses or faults, but creative tactics for effective survival.
I approach my SUPERVISORY work by respecting the Supervisee’s Self-longing for more than competency, but to foster well-being and transformative growth. Rather than diagnosing or pathologizing a person’s attempts to survive adaptively to their environment, I help my supervisee find their client’s forward edge creative impulses and collaborate with them to find constructive and relationally-viable expression.
I believe emotions and feelings must hold equal status with thoughts and actions. Current neuropsychological research supports this. Feelings form the core of who we are and the motivations we employ. They must be listened to and their meaning understood so that we can act with choice and agency.
Connection to our feelings is not always easy, however creating safety, trust and presence in the psychotherapeutic space is an essential first step. I teach an empathically-attuned approach supplemented which incorporates a somatic sensibility along with clinical formulation. I am continually delighted to explore and learn with my supervisees as they discover their dynamically evolving, creative, expressive Self and put it into clinical practice.