Mathew Peters

You may begin therapy with specific issues in mind or maybe just an inkling that something is not quite right.  It is also possible to begin therapy for one reason only to discover deeper underlying issues that were longing to be addressed.  

Regardless of the path you find yourself on, I believe that meaningful therapy and self-understanding is not about tips, tricks, or strategies; it is not about masking a problem or symptom.  It is about attempting to understand the underlying meaning behind or root causes of our feelings, thoughts, and the decisions we make.  It is about the freedom to do things differently, in ways that are less costly to ourselves.  We can’t always do this on our own.  However, if we can allow ourselves to be listened to, we don’t have to.

As a classically trained musician, I have come to understand the importance of listening, collaboration, and attunement.  I view this understanding as the basis from which I work as a therapist.  Talking through our thoughts and feelings with someone who is actively listening can provide a sense of great relief.  It can also be a unique opportunity to clarify our feelings, and to gain valuable insight into our thoughts and experiences.  An attuned collaborator can help us see things in ourselves that we have been unable to recognize, so far.  

I also appreciate how difficult it can be to recognize the unhelpful and unproductive templates or narratives we have developed over a lifetime.  Whereas once they may have been necessary, they can, in the here and now, limit our understanding and imagination of what it means to live more freely, internally connected, and engaged in the world around us. Therapy can help tease apart the bad from the good, help us rework those patterns, and allow us to make choices in the present that can serve us better as we move forward.