My Services
01.
Whether you are an individual who suffers from anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues or trauma, I am passionate to work with you.
It is my belief that the best outcome from therapy is finding a good fit. My approach to therapy is to validate and honor the importance of my clients' life experiences. I work authentically with my clients to develop healthy relationships with others, realize their potential and lead a fulfilled life.
I provide a safe environment where clients feel comfortable to explore and examine their life in order to better understand patterns that may contribute to problems. I hope to hold the space that will help my clients to find their own healings and authentic selves.
02.
Are you shy or struggling with having successful and meaningful connections with others? Do you have a hard time to recognize and communicate how you feel and what you need? Are you experiencing challenges with your sex life or sexuality?
My approach when working with clients in this area includes both talk therapy and experiential coaching. I work with sex and porn addiction from a harm reduction angle. I help clients who experienced sexual trauma to heal and better navigate dating and relationship issues.
I promote a sex positive environment and conversation. The goal is to maximize my clients' potential in life as well as their intimacy.
Here is the road map for what you can expect in sex therapy:
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Identify your goals
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Talk through potential approaches
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Create a plan
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Offer you emotional support, suggestions, and homework
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Help keep you motivated around your goals
03.
My work with couples will be utilizing the attachment approach from the Emotionally Focused Therapy and understanding the need for individualization.
As people move from the parent-child relationship into adulthood and romantic love, their basic need for attachment continues. In a relationship, if the sense of attachment is threatened, people go into survival modes such as fight, flight, or freeze patterns, which often lead to relationship-damaging behaviors. In the attachment model, the focus of therapy is to maintain the relationship by helping each person in the couple understand the other’s fears and anxieties and change their own behaviors to reduce these fears and enhance the attachment bonding.
The individuation approach believes in order to have a fulfilling life and relationship, people must be real in a relationship. It is about helping couples to grow up, move beyond the childhood attachment wounding, and accept their partner’s need to be who they are. The individuation approach is focused on promoting freedom, self-actualization and for each of the individuals to be true to themselves and to work on their own fears and anxieties so as to support their partner.
What I have found in working with couples is that every human being needs both a sense of attachment and a feeling that they are free to be who they are. This is essential to have a sustainable relationship.
04.
Several of my clients have told me that their issues were too overwhelmed and weekly sessions were too slow for the progress they wanted to achieve. My Couples Intensive Program supports couples who seek immediate help and wish to make rapid progress in their relationship. Whatever the reason you have, Couples Intensive is available to support you during times you need help the most.
Couples INTENSIVE INCLUDES:
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A 15 minute free phone consultation to discuss the program, and see if my services are a good fit.
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One in person pre-intensive couples counseling session to triage the major relationship issues that you and your partner are wishing to make progress on. We will also explore the underlying relationship dynamics and triggers.
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A half-day intensive couples counseling session with you and your partner in my downtown San Carlos office, conveniently located on Laurel Street.
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One post-intensive couples counseling session to follow up and support progress on your relationship goals.
Please note: I offer a half-day Couples Intensive on either Wednesday or Thursday.
Please email graceleemft@gmail.com for more information about Couples Intensive program.