Therapists in 55435
Lisa S. Squire, PhD, LP Clinical Psychologist
Psychologist, PhD, LP
Verified Verified
Edina, MN 55435
I imagine you're seeking a psychotherapist for counseling because you hope to make some important changes. Success working with a psychologist depends on you feeling comfortable engaging in a collaborative manner with her. Some therapy sessions may be difficult as you ask important questions about yourself, how you function in the world. As you proceed, you may experience frustration, confusion, anxiety, self-doubt and/or conflicted feelings, but at the end of your psychotherapy you'll most likely have learned something new to help you with the concerns that brought you in to seek psychological treatment.
I imagine you're seeking a psychotherapist for counseling because you hope to make some important changes. Success working with a psychologist depends on you feeling comfortable engaging in a collaborative manner with her. Some therapy sessions may be difficult as you ask important questions about yourself, how you function in the world. As you proceed, you may experience frustration, confusion, anxiety, self-doubt and/or conflicted feelings, but at the end of your psychotherapy you'll most likely have learned something new to help you with the concerns that brought you in to seek psychological treatment.
When you meet with me, you can expect unconditional positive regard, with empathy and candor. We will look at the challenges that brought you to the session, from various angles. Together, we will explore your strengths, as well as new tools, skills, and mindsets, to meet those challenges and transform them. We are the experts of our own lives, and we flourish and heal within wholesome relationships, including the therapeutic relationship. That is how we have evolved as humans. I will accompany you into the difficult places, so that you do not have to walk them alone, until we have turned on the light.
When you meet with me, you can expect unconditional positive regard, with empathy and candor. We will look at the challenges that brought you to the session, from various angles. Together, we will explore your strengths, as well as new tools, skills, and mindsets, to meet those challenges and transform them. We are the experts of our own lives, and we flourish and heal within wholesome relationships, including the therapeutic relationship. That is how we have evolved as humans. I will accompany you into the difficult places, so that you do not have to walk them alone, until we have turned on the light.
My experience includes work with families, children, adolescents, and adults from a variety of cultural and familial backgrounds. Blended families, families in conflict, couples in any stage from pre-marital to divorcing, and individuals longing to be heard are just a few of the populations with which I enjoy working. I join my clients through the challenges and transitions life presents, in a collaborative manner and without judgement. It is through humor, compassion, and setting attainable goals with my clients that I work.
My experience includes work with families, children, adolescents, and adults from a variety of cultural and familial backgrounds. Blended families, families in conflict, couples in any stage from pre-marital to divorcing, and individuals longing to be heard are just a few of the populations with which I enjoy working. I join my clients through the challenges and transitions life presents, in a collaborative manner and without judgement. It is through humor, compassion, and setting attainable goals with my clients that I work.
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Female Therapists
Does it matter what gender my therapist is?
In general, this is not an important factor, as there is no relationship between a therapist’s gender and their efficacy. Some clients, however, prefer to see therapists of a particular gender, whether due to their own past experiences with men and women, or ingrained beliefs about how people of different genders think and behave. Exploring the roots of such preferences and considering what one wants to address in therapy can help someone determine whether their therapist’s gender truly matters to them.
Should I see a female therapist?
Many people—not just women—prefer to see a female therapist, either because they believe that a woman will be able to relate to their specific challenges (for example, sexism in the workplace) or because they imagine feeling more comfortable disclosing sensitive information to a woman. Such beliefs may not turn out to be accurate, however, and adhering too rigidly to a gender preference can at times hinder a client from finding the best therapeutic match.
Do therapists get specific training to help with women’s concerns?
Therapists are trained to provide care to clients of any gender. However, some therapists—both men and women—may pursue additional training in feminist therapy, gender-specific issues, or women’s mental health. Female clients may wish to ask prospective therapists whether they have received specific training in the client’s primary area(s) of concern, or whether they have worked extensively with women on issues similar to their own.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience in treating women?
It’s OK—even encouraged!—to ask a therapist directly whether and how often they have treated women in the past, or whether they have treated women dealing with the client’s most prominent concern(s). Competent therapists will be happy to share their educational background, preferred treatment modalities, and prior client experience to help an individual find the therapist best suited to their needs.