My therapeutic style is centered around compassion, clarity, and courage. Compassion is at the core of my being and practice, and my greatest hope is that you feel safe, seen, and respected in the therapy room. Through deep conversations and collaborative exploration, you and I will work together to find clarity around issues that may feel murky or confusing right now. I very much honor the courage it takes to examine your life and make meaningful changes that will ultimately help you live a more empowered, fulfilling, wholehearted life.

What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?

I first became interested in psychology when I was in high school. As a teenager, I struggled with depression, anxiety, and regular panic attacks. I also had close family members who experienced serious mental health issues, which prompted me to want to not only learn more about psychology but to figure out how I could help. My resolve to become a psychotherapist was solidified as I experienced firsthand the profound difference that therapy could make in an individual’s life as I reached out for help during some profoundly difficult times.

How have your personal experiences helped your work with your clients?

Although I have lived a privileged life in many respects, I have had many experiences that were extremely challenging. I believe the challenges I have faced contribute to my ability to approach every client with kindness, understanding, and non-judgment. I strive to help individuals connect to their Self, to get in touch with the part of them that is courageous, compassionate, creative, and calm. I understand the need for personal empowerment and believe that with support and collaboration, we can help you find acceptance, healing, and joy. I have a deep understanding of the power of stories and how the stories we tell ourselves (as well as the stories that are told about us by family, culture, and society) really shape how we see the world, how we show up, and how we face difficulties. Helping my clients tell a new, more empowering story in which they are the hero is some of the most powerful work I have seen in my own life and in therapy with clients.

If you could pick one or two books that influenced your approach to therapy what would they be and why?

It is tough to pick only two books, but what immediately came to mind is “No Bad Parts” by Richard C. Schwartz, PhD as my first choice. This is an excellent book that is meant for consumers as well, so I highly recommend it to my clients who are interested in Internal Family Systems work. Schwartz’s books inform my work in so many ways, including the concept of the “Self,” the idea that we all have parts of ourselves that work to protect us, and a strong belief that we are all good inside and capable of change. Another important book is “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. This is a more difficult read but so important for the therapy field and my work as a therapist. Van der Kolk’s explanations of how trauma affects the brain, mind, and body is so important to understand as a therapist who strives to help individuals heal from the past in a holistic way through EMDR, Narrative, and Internal Family Systems therapies.   

For more information, please visit www.diannemasonlmft.com