Derek Brennan

You may feel like you’re carrying the weight of your past everywhere you go. Maybe you feel trapped in patterns you know are hurting you but don’t know how to change. You’ve tried to push through, avoid the memories, or tell yourself you should be able to handle it on your own. Instead, the frustration shows up in everyday life—through procrastination, conflict, substance use, isolation, or feeling overwhelmed by situations that seem manageable to everyone else. You might find yourself thinking, “I can’t keep feeling this way,” “I always mess everything up,” or “I should be able to stop, but I can’t.” Even when you know a behavior is creating problems, it still feels like the only thing helping you get through the day. Maybe you have been searching for a therapist who understands why you react to situations the way you do, or you need someone who challenges the beliefs that keep you stuck, and teaches you practical ways to respond differently. Deep down, you are ready for something to change, but have no idea what that change is supposed to look like or where to begin. In therapy, we’ll work together to understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You show up exactly as you are, and together we work toward overcoming the challenges that may be holding you back. We may explore rigid thoughts such as “I have to do everything perfectly,” “I can’t handle this,” or “If I relapse, I’ve failed completely.” We’ll work toward replacing these demands with more flexible and realistic ways of thinking, so difficult experiences no longer have to determine your worth or control how you respond.