In individual therapy, clients create their own goals with the overarching idea that we are moving away from their problem-narrative into a strengths-narrative, with an emphasis on agency and achievements.

 

Despite working with a single individual, I look at clients within their social context: family, culture, religion, society, work, friendship, and relationships. Looking at an individual as a collection of numerous stories means we take into consideration their physical, intellectual, emotional, interactional, and spiritual parts. 

 

My job as a therapist is to help individuals figure out who they are, who they want to be, and what stands in the way. We pay close attention to problems they are facing, the history of those problems, how those problems are affecting them, and their control over those problems. We also pay close attention to clients’ expectations, such as where those expectations came from, how are they affecting them, and what they wish to change. Interventions are individually tailored for each client. Additionally, based on clients’ needs, I may incorporate somatic mindfulness, art, and drama techniques.