Individual, Couples and Family Therapy
Each of us is a healthy and whole being. Even before birth (in utero),
we have experiences that take us away from our authentic selves. The goal
of therapy is to work through what blocks us from connecting with our essential
self and discovering our life purpose. Therapy is a process by which we
uncover the truth about who we are as well as what holds us back from believing
in the possibility of change.
Each of us has experienced difficulties and challenges. Identifying and
cultivating strengths that help us through our darkest nights helps us
connect to our authentic selves. Clients identify 3 categories of strengths
including the inner, interpersonal and transpersonal. Some inner resources
clients name include: humor, sense of beauty, optimism, awe, persistence,
curiosity, creativity, acceptance and compassion.
Clients also identify people - living or dead - who embody these qualities:
ancestors, family members, authors, celebrities, etc. Together we discover
who it is that has a guiding message. While all strengths connect us to
our highest self, transpersonal resources connect us directly to something
greater than ourselves. Clients have drawn upon the wisdom and strength
of a Higher Power, God, Jesus, Allah, Yaweh, the earth, animal spirits,
trees, etc. Connecting to these resources connects us to our true nature.
An important step on this journey is cultivating compassion. Through compassion
we come to experience our connection to ourselves and, ultimately, to
know that we are connected to all beings.
Training
I have been trained in a variety of theories and methods including
individual, couples, and family counseling, object relations, cognitive
therapy, drama therapy, psychodrama, movement therapy, sandplay, art and
movement therapies. I also have studied Buddhism (Vipassana meditation)
and other spiritual practices for many years. I draw from all of these
areas in my work with individuals, couples and families. The therapeutic
relationship is a co-creation, so the work varies with each client.
Individual Therapy
There are times in our lives when we wish to focus on our own growth
and to know ourselves better. Many life challenges can lead a person to
individual therapy including: wanting to make changes but unsure about
how to proceed; abusing food, substances, work, etc., as a means of coping;
experiencing anxiety, panic or depression; unable to move on from past
hurts or traumas; being in a time of transition or experiencing a loss.
Individual therapy can help clients gain greater awareness of their own
processes and transform life challenges into opportunities for growth.
Couples Therapy
If most of the challenges in your life revolve around your primary
relationship, you may benefit from working with your partner or spouse
in therapy. Couples Therapy focuses on the relationship between the two
people in the couple. The therapist acts as a facilitator in helping the
couple better understand their interactions and the forces that may be
affecting their relationship. The therapy shifts between day-to-day problem
solving and improving communication, and exploring previous experiences
of each partner that may be contributing to present-day behaviors.
Couples therapy can help those who are in new relationships as well as
those who have been together for many years. Couples therapy can help
renew the respect and love the couple shares, increase the fun and pleasure
the couple experiences and deepen the intimacy of the relationship. It
can also help each person develop new roles in the relationship and be
more fully themselves.
Family Therapy
Families often come into therapy when there is a breakdown in communication,
during a crisis or in a time of transition. Family therapy gives everyone
an opportunity to be heard and to work together for the good of the family.
Family therapy can help the family establish new roles for each member
and establish new rules, rituals and norms.
Expressive Arts Therapy including Psychodrama and
Drama Therapy
Many individuals, couples and families choose to work in an expressive
arts modality. I am skilled in psychodrama, drama therapy, sandplay, art
and movement therapies and may draw from all of these areas in my work
with clients. The introduction of expressive modalities increases spontaneity
and playfulness, thus allowing for new roles - new ways of understanding,
experiencing and acting - to emerge.
Locations and Availability
I work with individuals, couples and families at IMAGINE!
in San Rafael on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and in San Francisco
on Tuesdays. Please call (415) 454-7308
to discuss your needs or arrange for an appointment.
Sylvia Israel
|