Seniors and Aging

You’re going through a lot, but therapy can help.

Acknowledging your fears and adjusting your attitude…

Sometimes, our thoughts and beliefs take us off course, assigning incorrect meaning to them. We have these thoughts and assume they are true. Fears can be exaggerated and instill panic. You feel trapped.

Distorted views amid stress can make you susceptible to rigid good vs. bad thinking with nothing in between, allowing you to jump to conclusions or mistakenly see everything as catastrophic.

We can turn this around by teaching you to re-evaluate your fears and face them. Help you problem solve to cope with difficult situations. Understand your negative thinking patterns and challenge their validity. You can learn optimism to increase your ability to live a fulfilled life.

Understanding, accepting, and embracing what’s changing…

Accepting emotions and thoughts that may feel out of your control is a step in the right direction. We will explore difficult feelings without judgment and validate them. These may be things you hesitate to discuss with anyone. Teaching you to stay present and not let your mind wander will let you attune to yourself and work through painful thoughts while making peace with things you cannot change.

Developing a more positive mindset…

The pursuit of happiness is all around us. So when we are not happy, we assume that we are doing something wrong. As humans, we tend to focus only on what is bad. We have a choice in our sessions to focus on what is good and reverse this tendency.

We will focus on problem-solving, not just venting, taking time to engage in random acts of kindness, practice gratitude and compassion, and savor life to intensify enjoyment. These can give greater meaning to your life and enrich future experiences.

Setting meaningful goals that provide structure and purpose can increase self-identity at this stage of your life. Finally, you will learn to be kind to yourself rather than self-critical and strive for perfection.

Challenging your brain to stave off memory loss…

Adult education classes, an instrument, or a new language. A book club, exercise. Crossword puzzles. When your mind is active, your thinking skills stay intact. Trying new things can invigorate your mind and body and help you pave a better life. We will explore your concerns and formulate a wellness plan you can be proud of.

Implementing preventive measures for stress-reduction and vitality…

Stressors change as we age. Loss of a loved one, loss of physical ability, mobility, independence. More individualized than the challenges of finding a career or raising a family.

We will create a safe space for you to identify your current issues. Knowing them will help you figure out how to minimize them. Experiment with relaxation breathing, meditation, or yoga to release tension. Embrace humor to release anxiety. Take a break from your norm by taking a morning walk, cooking a new dish, or taking up a hobby.

We will find what works for you and work with your physicians, if appropriate.

Learning to communicate your sexual needs and develop intimacy…

We can redefine sex! Active communication with your partner can address what intimacy means at this stage. Look at intimacy beyond sex. Cuddling or walking holding hands can be very intimate and rewarding. Talking about aides to heighten sexuality at this age helps. We will explore your feelings and needs, identify your and your partner’s love languages, and help you learn to express your needs.

Redefining your identity…

Your role in life has shifted. Once a mother, father, and worker, you now sit with just yourself.

Who am I now?

We will explore who you were. Maybe dispel the parts you are less proud of. Visualize new parts of yourself you want to build up, new roles that you may want to take on. Maybe you want to find ways to give back to the world or commit to living healthier lives. We will focus on your strengths, let go of the old, and bring in the new.

Setting new goals for yourself…

It’s not too late to dream. You have worked hard. Don’t limit yourself to what you think you cannot do. Creating milestones as we age is important to give us a sense of purpose and something to do. Social involvement, support groups, improving technological skills, and hobbies are great things to focus on. Together, we will explore things you are proud of that you want to continue. Or uncover a lifelong dream that you want to rekindle. You can go big or set smaller, manageable tasks.