Worries and Fears

Sometimes the real world can trigger you too much, especially other people.

YOU MAY BE EXPLORING THIS PAGE BECAUSE…

You are starting to lose trust in one of your colleagues at work. Your’e worrying because you can’t tell if you are being overly suspicious or if you are actually picking up on something real.
You feel ashamed because your colleagues regularly have lunch together and you are almost never invited to join them.
Your manager has a tremendous amount of confidence in you and puts you into high-pressure situations with others. You want your manager to know that you this is stressing you out but you are afraid about sharing any vulnerability.
One of your closest friends is going through a very acrimonious divorce and relies on you to hear everything that is going on. You’d like to help, but are finding that you are getting too drained.
Your aunt keeps inviting herself over to your home, coming by without warning and expecting to be included in the day’s meals and activities. You don’t know how to address this, but it makes you angry, and then guilty.

Please read a little bit about the services that I offer and see if they might help you.

Our relationships can be a large source of worry. Or maybe it's just you (and that's okay).

So much of the time, you can end up focusing on a work project, a deadline, an assignment, or a social event, instead of taking the time to realize that part of the stress that is going on has to do with the relationship that you have with someone around you.

Or maybe you are someone who is more sensitive. That's okay, while sometimes that added sensitivity can make you feel miserable.

If this is you: You need a place where you can openly and safely explore these relationships and youself, identify what’s triggering you, and get some help.

My Goals for Therapy Regarding your Worries and Fears

I believe that these other relationships in our lives are important and sometimes deserve more attention.

As adults we sometimes feel ashamed and embarrassed that “little things” at work or with friends can become big worries or create strong feelings. We can feel like we are acting immaturely because we feel upset. Yet, once you start to share your feelings in counseling, you often will find that there is a genuine and valid reason for your feelings and worries. Maybe your colleague is triggering an old hurt. Or maybe your friend did really insult you on purpose just to get a reaction out of you. Or you maybe someone who tends to worry easily.

My goal in working together on these adult relationships is to help identify the significance of the relationship, to help you understand the triggers, and work on ways of coming to terms with the situation. Sometimes our goal is to work toward you talking with the other person. Sometimes the goal is to accept the situation as it is.

My Experience Treating Worries and Fears

A key component of my clinical psychology training was to learn individual psychotherapy, learning behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic and eclectic/hybrid models. These early training experiences became a bridge for me when I began practicing on my own.

Of course, being an adult I have my own personal experiences to draw on, too.

Unlike some therapists, I spent part of my career working outside of traditional clinical settings as a biotech leader, and have learned about the complexities of adult work-related relationships. This included some time working in academia. This also included some time working in the public sector at The National Institute of Mental Health. Finally, I have spent time working in the private sector in several biotechnology companies, both large and small. Visibility to these less empathic settings has helped me to appreciate how these adult relationships can be a significant cause of worry and stress.