We’ve carefully devised a specific course of action based on our belief that a change in healthcare delivery is needed. Our first change began with moving to new office space in 2010. This change in our physical environment parallels the change in philosophy we endorse. We’re engaging in “healthcare reform” at an individual level while our nation debates the topic at a national level.

• Personalized Service & Expert Care. We’re a small, independently-owned clinic with very talented doctors who are all doctoral-level clinicians. Because we’re a smaller clinic, our patients and their families experience a strong sense of being “cared for” and “cared about” by their doctor and the clinic. We thrive in being a “smaller fish in a big –often impersonal – pond.” We recognize the tremendous effort and commitment our patients invest in their personal growth when deciding to engage in psychotherapy. Consequently, we enjoy putting forth a high level of attention to the care we deliver. Our patients benefit greatly from our years of advanced training and expertise. Patients and their families can feel confident in our ability to provide excellent care.

• A Good Fit – “Master Therapist.” In selecting our doctors, individual personality style and life philosophy are equally as important as his or her specific professional set of skills, training, and experience. It’s the co-existence of particular professional skills and personality style that makes for a winning combination for our patients. Our doctors possess traits associated with being a “master therapist” and have been fortunate to pair up with great mentors and colleagues during their clinical training and professional careers. We capitalize on and proactively work in continually developing our skills in order to improve ourselves professionally and personally. Research indicates “master therapist” traits include: voracious learners; love learning; draw extensively from accumulated experience; value cognitive complexity; flexible thinkers and problem-solvers; self-aware and reflective; emotionally receptive to feedback and non-defensive; mentally healthy and mature; attend to their own emotional well-being; aware of how their own emotional health impacts their work; strong relationship skills; skillful listeners and observers; warm and respectful; genuinely interested in people; firmly believe in people’s ability to change; are optimistic and can instill hope in others; experts at using their exceptional relational skills in therapy; can create a safe and supportive place of sanctuary for the patient. Research has long shown how this is associated with more positive outcomes for the patient.

• Doctor-Patient Relationship. We endorse using the term “doctor-patient” relationship (vs. provider-consumer or therapist-client) because we feel it conveys the level of professionalism and expertise required to best serve our patients. We feel this term best conveys the true spirit of our obligation and our role in providing healthcare. Only this term addresses the expectation of a high level of expertise, and at the same time emphasizes the responsibility of one individual to another. We honor, first and foremost, our professional clinical roles; we then attend to our role as business people second.

• The Art & Science of Psychotherapy. We value both the science and the art of psychotherapy, recognizing the two elements complement each other. Our doctors work to stay current on effective new developments, techniques, and research — the “science” part of it. We pay equal attention to how we can best use this knowledge to help our patients by honing our skills in the way we deliver this knowledge and care for our patients. That is, through our sense of compassion and sensitivity, our ability to listen which allows our patient’s to feel truly heard, and our skill in inspiring hope and safety — the “art” part of it.

• Credible Role Models. As doctors, we consistently (but not perfectly) “practice what we preach.” We take good care of ourselves so we can take better care of our patients. We earn our patient’s trust and respect through our emphasis on credibility and integrity. We strive to be positive role models so our patient’s are able to see the advice we offer them clearly displayed in our own behaviors. We recognize both our imperfect human-ness and the expectation we be held to a higher standard.

• Value & Respect. Our doctors know they are valued and respected at the clinic. We each have our “own space” which helps both doctor and patient feel a sense of safety, comfort, dependability, and importance. Each of the doctors’ offices reflects the individual taste, interests, and style of the doctor. The interior and exterior spaces of the clinic are specifically designed or decorated to inspire a sense of comfort and appreciation of nature. Each doctor plays a critical role and makes a unique contribution to the clinic’s success and toward each patient’s personal growth. We recognize and respect different perspectives and approaches—that “one size fits all” discounts a person’s individual life experiences and lovely uniqueness. We appreciate “all the splendor of you!”

• Independence & Collaborative Teamwork. Our doctors work independently, which allows more control over clinical decisions. Additionally, we actively contribute to the “team spirit” of the clinic by supporting each other’s successes through professional mentoring. We maintain our strong sense of commitment and respect through regularly scheduled communal lunches, wellness activities, and professional collaboration.

• Creative & Effective Solutions. For our doctors as well as for our patients, creativity is encouraged and expected in terms of developing effective, efficient solutions to life’s many challenges. We are excited by the many opportunities we’re given to contribute to another person’s success. We celebrate occasions when we recognize trouble spots and help clear obstacles from our own or another’s path toward achieving a desired goal.

• Strength-Based Approach & Holistic Care. The clinical care we provide is very holistic in nature. This means we attend to all aspects of our patients’ health and lifestyle, and this clearly reflects in patient treatment plans and our patient’s positive outcomes—the big and the small victories. Our services assist a wide variety of patients who are experiencing issues with their emotional health, physical health, or both. We focus on our patients’ strengths and/or family strengths to bring about positive change. We remind ourselves and our patients of the things we’re each doing that are “right” and focus on these elements, rather than putting our energy into rehashing what we’re already well aware of that is “wrong.” We believe kindness and gentleness toward ourselves and our patients is more instructive and powerful than criticism and reproach. No one thrives in an atmosphere of blame, shame, and finger-wagging.

• Ethics & Social Responsibility. The clinic itself and each individual doctor is committed to working in socially responsible and ethical way — within the clinic and outside in the community. We abide by the strict ethical standards of our professional groups and associations. We look at and explore new ways to blend ethical behavior and social responsibility in the ways we contribute as “consumers” of material products and “creators” of human potential.

Our new office space is “green-oriented” in terms of attitude, furnishings, and energy use. Our bi-directional focus recognizes the interplay between humans and our environment. That is, our physical environment has a powerful effect on body and mind alike, and we in turn exert a powerful influence on our environment. This also reflects our concern and responsibility for the world we inhabit, and the world our children will inhabit.