Ered Massie Psychotherapy, LCSW

Recently, a friend described their life path as a "play in at least three acts.” I wondered why this metaphor stuck with me and felt relevant to my own path before realizing that it was about agency, or the ability to tell one's own story, and hope, or looking forward to what happens next. I hold both of these characteristics front and center when shaping my life and career. My path has had several acts: The first, driven by external forces (student debt and parental loss); the second, driven by reconnection to self and personal passions (I left my decade-long career, went to grad school for social work, and launched my therapist career in community hospitals and agencies); and the third, which is still being written. I'm now focusing on creating a sustainable private practice in order to continue doing what I love for years to come and living a life alongside it that feels meaningful and adventurous.

I believe that you, the client, are your own expert and my role as the therapist is to be a guide, observing, highlighting, and helping you expand upon what you know about yourself and your life. Viewing sessions as collaborative conversations means that we purposefully meander sometimes. We set goals for our time together but allow space to explore different parts of your story and think about what kind of change might be brought about by reshaping your narratives. Weaving elements of cognitive behavioral therapy into sessions (sometimes, in a more structured way and other times, more organically) is meant to provide concrete strategies and knowledge that help you feel supported in your day-to-day life as you work toward creating deeper and broader change.

While therapy sessions are only brief interludes within the context of the broader life you're living, they can be transformative in their reach. I believe that everyone deserves to live a life that feels full and connected and I recognize that this may look different for each person! I try to create a supportive and affirming space to explore concepts of self, identity, and one's lived experiences. I approach every client and session with a nonjudgmental stance, gentle and compassionate directness, and warmth, and I actively hold and engage within the systemic context (e.g., family and friends, community, cultural strengths, and oppressions).