About Therapy
Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror,…
… and your first thought is, “I like myself.”
As you go through your day you enjoy the little things, drinking a cup of coffee, taking the dog for a walk, getting the kids ready for school, or getting ready for work. It’s no longer overwhelming but enjoyable.
If a thought rolls in that feels a little activating, you laugh to yourself and think I’ve got this. If the kids or your spouse start to throw off your calm vibe, you recognize it early and know how to manage them and get your calm back. If you have a difficult meeting coming up or a phone call you really don’t want to make, you know how to do hard things and acknowledge yourself when you do.
While I can’t guarantee there will no longer be difficult moments or even difficult days, they can be few and far between.
There is a poem that, for me, summarizes what I want for my clients at the end of therapy. The poem is Love after Love by Derek Walcott, and the first verse goes like this.
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
I want you to be in relationship with yourself…
…and treat yourself like you would your own best friend.
For most clients, this seems impossible when they first start therapy. Many clients do befriend themselves over the course of therapy, and seeing this is one of my greatest joys as a therapist.
I use a strength-based approach that does not focus on what’s wrong with you but rather on why what is happening or how you are coping makes sense, given the situations you are dealing with now and have dealt with in the past.
Sometimes, coping strategies don’t change as situations change – and you get stuck.
I can help you recognize when this is happening and assist you in developing skills appropriate to your current situation.
So instead of the dialogue of “I can’t believe I’m doing this again or feeling this way.” The dialogue changes to “I’m noticing this is happening, and I know why it’s happening, and I know what I can do instead.”
There’s no reason to beat yourself up.
Our therapy sessions are not about pointing out what needs to be fixed but rather noticing, understanding, and broadening the tools you can use.
Together, we’ll encourage you to do something different.
You will have options instead of only reacting.
Get to know how amazing you are.
Imagine having a space where there is no judgmental “Why did you do that” or “you should have done this.” Instead, there’s room to explore what is happening and why with compassion and support.
We also work to identify strengths. When we know what is already working well, we can intentionally build on it. One of the biggest challenges for many people I work with is actually noticing what they are doing well and owning it.
I really enjoy my clients, and I want you to enjoy yourself as much as I do.
About Melynda Klausner, LCPC
A Holistic Approach
Through education focused on mind, body, and spirit, my work uses a holistic approach.
For several years, I worked as a psychiatric nurse. Then, I transitioned into healthcare consulting after earning an MBA. Later, while raising a family, I returned to my first love and got another Master in Pastoral Counseling.
My theoretical approaches cover a broad spectrum, both newer such as Polyvagal, Internal Family Systems, and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Therapy, to the tried and true basics, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Much of my work has been focused on trauma care. A variety of modalities may be useful in our work, such as art-inspired therapy, sand tray, music therapy, and animal therapy. I have done equine-assisted therapy using EAGALA and was certified in that approach until COVID.
I cater our sessions to what works for you and what helps you understand and grow from your unique story and set of symptoms. If bringing your dog to therapy serves the work we are doing, go for it!
In case you can’t tell, I am a big animal lover.
I have three dogs, four cats, two miniature donkeys, and three horses. That’s Calvin in the picture with me!
When I am not with clients, I spend time outside with four-legged friends. I practice what I preach and actively work on my habits and strategies to be as healthy as possible.
I consider it a privilege to sit with my clients and be part of their lives. I hope we will have the opportunity to work together and you will discover the amazing person you are.