Clinical FAQs

What is the focus of your practice? 

My clinical practice helps clients to reduce interpersonal suffering by decreasing emotional difficulties, conflict, and anxiety. The practice values emotional growth, and we work collaboratively together on emotions like shame, anger, and fear. The strategies used are evidence-based and tailored to your particular goals. 

 

What are the specific tracks that you offer? 

After years of experience working as a clinical psychologist, I noticed that I develop a better collaborative relationship with clients when we start out with a more structured approach. Clients also tend to be more satisfied because they receive a lot of evidence-based strategies early on in treatment. These tracks can still be adjusted and flexibly tailored to your goals. As noted on the website, the tracks that are currently offered are dialectical behavior therapy skills training, evidence-based anxiety work, evidence-based parenting, and a track that is relationship/conflict focused. If one of these tracks does not fit your specific needs, please note that these tracks do not represent the extent of my knowledge and training. I can offer suggestions about what track or tailored-therapy will be a good fit for your goals in our intake. 

 

I just want an unstructured therapist to talk to about whatever I am facing. Are you a good fit? 

To some extent, I do sessions that are based on what arises week-by-week. Though, I prefer to do those sessions after we have collaboratively learned some of the skills together. This gives us a common language and helps make sure we are on the same page when I serve you. 

 

My mental health is severe, and I need comprehensive mental health treatment. Are you a good fit? 

If your mental health is severe, I can be part of your treatment team. The best role for me to play is to be your collaborative skills trainer, and we will collaborate with another therapist or psychiatrist who can be your primary provider. I am unable to be on call for emergencies in this stage of my life due to my role as a parent and my work with students. 

 

 

Do you meet with children, teens, couples, and, families? 

Yes, I work with adults and teens who are over thirteen-years-old. I do not offer traditional couples or family therapy. However, couples or families can complete some of the tracks that are applicable to them. This is technically a form of couples or family therapy, which has evidence to increase couple and family satisfaction. The difference is that it does not involve frequent unstructured conversations, but instead is focused on learning specific techniques and skills together. 

 

What therapy modalities do you use? 

I primarily use third-wave evidence based therapies, including dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure techniques, and holistic approaches to mental health. I also use strategies from effective couples/family work, including emotionally focused therapy and Gottman. In addition, you will also notice that I integrate hunter-gatherer mental health strategies because some mental health disorders are modern phenomena that require environmental and structural changes at home. 

 

What is your style of therapy? 

My clients tend to experience me as engaged, connected, encouraging, and collaborative. I strive to show up to sessions fully attentive and ready to work with you toward your goals. 

 

I have additional clinical questions?

If you are not yet a client, please feel free to contact me at samuel@fosteringgrowthandcooperation.com