Ryan Godley

Sometimes, what brings you to therapy is not just one thing. You may be struggling with anxiety that is difficult to quiet, depression that has made it harder to feel connected or motivated, or changes in mood that feel difficult to understand or manage. You may also be using substances to cope with difficult emotions or experiences, or carrying the effects of trauma that continue to influence how you feel and respond today. I work with seniors and adults experiencing substance use or addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and trauma. These concerns can overlap with OCD, panic, anger, relationship difficulties, cultural concerns, or PTSD, particularly when several areas of life begin affecting one another. Therapy can give you a space to step back from all of that, understand what is happening beneath the surface, and begin making changes without having to figure everything out on your own.

Our work will make room for both the person you are and the experiences, patterns, relationships, and challenges that have shaped how you cope. We’ll explore how substance use or addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and trauma may be affecting your emotional well-being and your ability to feel grounded and in control of your life. I may use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you recognize connections between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and develop healthier ways of responding, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you make room for difficult emotions while staying connected to what matters to you, and Motivational Interviewing to explore change without pressure while strengthening your own reasons for moving forward. Cognitive Processing Therapy can help you examine beliefs that developed in response to trauma and begin creating a different understanding of those experiences, while Dialectical Behavior Therapy can provide practical skills for managing intense emotions, distress, and difficult situations. Solution Focused Brief Therapy can help us identify your strengths and turn your goals into manageable steps. Our sessions will be collaborative, respectful, and grounded in your individual experience rather than expecting you to fit into a predetermined version of therapy.

You do not need to have everything figured out before we begin. During our first few sessions, we will take time to understand what brought you to therapy, what has been most difficult, and what you would like to feel different in your life. Together, we will identify goals that feel meaningful and realistic and decide where it makes the most sense to begin. You can expect me to listen without judgment, ask thoughtful questions, and create a space where you can be honest about difficult emotions, substance use, changes in mood, or painful experiences. Progress may look like developing healthier ways to cope instead of relying on substances, feeling more able to manage anxiety or intense emotions, understanding changes in mood, reconnecting with yourself when depression feels heavy, or processing trauma so that the past has less control over your present. We will continue checking in on your goals and adjust our work as your needs change. When you are ready, you can schedule your first session with me through Headway.