How do you work?

My general style of working is to do a lot of listening – careful, thoughtful listening, both to what’s said and to what I may hear between the lines. While people new to therapy struggle initially with what to say, quite quickly they welcome the opportunity to quiet themselves and think deeply about their concerns. I also find that a touch of humor can open doors and shift perspective, sometimes with surprising results.

What is your orientation?

I have a strong background in psychoanalytic and object relations theory.  What this means in lay terms is a belief that the framework of your personality gets set early in life, for better and for worse.   By looking carefully and compassionately, within the context of a therapeutic relationship, at assumptions and adjustments you’ve made, often without knowing it, you can begin to reclaim the parts of yourself that were neglected or abandoned.   Deeper structural changes such as these take longer and yet have far-reaching and deeply gratifying results. My preferred approach is to work with people for several years, often twice weekly when resources permit.

A common misconception is that psychoanalytically oriented therapy means dealing only with the past.  My work generally deals with the present, and with difficulties that show up in the present, making segways into early events as indicated.

How long will it take?

While the answer to this question obviously varies with each person, it’s reasonable to inquire about the nature of the commitment you’ll be making.  The way I generally try to answer it is to say it depends on what you want for yourself.  If solving “the problem” will permit you to get on with your life in a generally satisfying manner, the focus of therapy can be limited and the length of time shorter, probably somewhere from 3 to 6 months.   If you want or need more far-reaching changes in how you approach life and view yourself, the duration can be one to two years or longer.   The question of expectable duration can often be clarified further in an initial meeting.

I’m having trouble at work.  Should I seek therapy or coaching?

This is an important question but difficult to answer briefly.  I suggest you read this article and then call me to discuss your particular situation:. http://www.successfromtheinsideout.com/eletters/change.html

Contact:

( 510) 526-7377
Albany, CA
Email Nina Ham