Carolyn Griffith

I believe that counseling is a collaborative process, validating the significance of life history, and building on clients hopes and strengths.

As a licensed professional counselor, I am trained as a family system.; acknowledging the significance of relationships past and present. I employ a process which integrates a body mind spirit approach. As a former family services public social worker and as a person trained in spiritual direction i acknowledge both the impact of hardship, grief, trauma and the hope and perspective that a general spiritual mindset can offer. Touchstones are those life defining experiences which once honored and integrated may become the building blocks of a more satisfying life.

After welcoming and introductions, our first session will be to review the Informed Consent which I hope will be foundation of the collaborative process in clarifying mutual expectations and a first step toward establishing the trust necessary for clients to feel that the space is safe to name and explore their struggles and hopes. I allow an opportunity for clients to ask any questions about my professional background and how i hope to engage them in the work of counseling. And importantly I listen to a client story and what brings them to the session. The question that is paramount for the initial session is to consider " If counseling is 'successful' what will be different in your life and what will YOU be doing differently. Initial sessions can be expected to take 1 and 1/2 hours.