Welcome
If you've landed on this page, you or someone you care about is likely searching for information, support or simply someone to hear your story without judgment.
 
Perhaps you want more--tired of endless rounds of sadness, anxiety, depression, anger or unresolved grief, you are seeking another way. It is possible to reconnect with joy and equanimity (mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation) even in the face of these difficult emotions.
 
I encourage you to look around this website and get a sense of who I am as a person, and as a therapist. If you think there may be a fit, we can have an initial phone conversation. If we are not a good fit, I'll do my best to help you find a coach or therapist who is.
 
Many Paths
Many are surprised to learn that the degree of success in psychotherapy does not depend on the methods, techniques or theoretical orientation of the therapist  (EMDR, CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, Body Centered, Jungian, Buddhist inspired among a multitude of others). Neither is the therapist’s specific education or training program the most important factor in success.
 
What then IS most important? The first is the qualities the client brings—persistence, optimism, commitment to change and openness are important. The second is the quality of the therapeutic relationship. This relationship may be one of the first times clients have formed an intimate connection with another person, where the feelings, thoughts or ideas have been allowed to be heard, understood and valued, and where they have not had to censor themselves.
 
Difficult Emotions
Life, with or without our input, brings us situations that bring sadness, anxiety, depression, anger and deep grief. Life also brings joy, peace, contentment, love and compassion. It’s natural to try to push away difficult emotions and try to hang on to pleasant ones. Buddhist philosophy tells us that either ‘grasping’ or ‘clinging’ in an attempt to hold on to pleasant emotions or rejecting or running from painful emotions, results in suffering.
 
Our Work Together
There is a way to experience life events and emotions without blaming ourselves or others; without making something or someone right or wrong. There is a way to live in the present without regrets of the past or emotionally living through future events that may or may not ever come to pass. This is the core of how I work with clients. This is the basis for the way I live my life. 
 
I have both a deep sensitivity to human suffering and an unshakeable optimism in the strength of the human spirit. Profound healing is possible when courage and vulnerability of both the client and therapist meet in the therapeutic room.
 
How Can I Help?
I work best with clients who are committed to change and movement in their lives and who are at a place where they are able to invest the time and energy required to experience this change. You may already have an understanding that this describes where you are in your life. More than likely however, you will not truly know this until after you have experienced three or four sessions of our work together; until you have or have not done the recommended work between sessions; and until you can decide whether we are on our way to developing the therapeutic relationship I described earlier.
 
It is reasonable to ask—what if all I am looking for is some support; some encouragement and am not looking to engage in the type of work you describe? These needs can often be met through friends and other relationships but some prefer an objective, outside 'ear' where they have less need to filter information sharing. While this is not 'therapy' per se, it is a valid and important component of a therapeutic relationship. During our initial meeting we will jointly arrive at which type of therapeutic relationship you are seeking.
 
Contact Me
Use the contact form on this website to begin our conversation--provide as much or as little information as feels right and I will get back with you within 48 hours. If you do not hear from me within two days, please email me directly at mccormickcounseling108@gmail.com or leave me a voicemail at 507-400-2778.  

Notice: Until COVID19 restrictions are lifted, sessions are conducted through a secure on-line service. You will be able to sign in through your personal computer or smart phone. As of 5/1/21, fully vaccinated clients can choose to have in-person, maskless visits. Please indicate your preference in your initial outreach.