Introduction

I offer evidence-based treatments to address presenting concerns that include, but are not limited to: anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, grief, and relationship issues. I am also interested in working with clients looking for psycho-therapeutic guidance to explore concepts related to intuitive eating, intuitive movement, exercise, and body image.

During the first couple of sessions, we will work together to establish expectations and a clear treatment plan. My hope during our time together is to go beyond coping tools and symptom management, to provide therapy that leads to psychological resilience, growth, and development. I am theoretically-minded, and many of the sessions focus first on unraveling and exploring concepts, after which the ideas will be practically applied. I enjoy working with clients in both individual and group settings.

Therapy Approach: Clinical Psychology + Therapy Plus

I see my work as two-pronged. During clinical psychotherapy, which is the first step, we pinpoint problems, address presenting concerns, and manage any trauma. During this phase, previously held ideologies are examined and often broken down and reworked. But the relief of presenting concerns is only the beginning–afterwards, the hard work of discovering identity and rebuilding the self starts. This second step is important because mental health does not result from the mere absence of clinical symptoms–clients must build themselves up to replace ideologies that have been broken down through clinical psychotherapy. While the focus during clinical psychotherapy is addressing symptoms, during “Therapy Plus,” the focus is for clients, either through individual or group sessions, to engage in the process of self-discovery and exploration.

What is Therapy Plus

The self-discovery process will necessarily be unique to each client, and as a result, I don’t use any premeditated methods or programs during Therapy Plus. Rather, the sessions will be much more open-ended, client-initiated, and journey-focused than outcome-oriented in nature. My job will be to continue to provide psychotherapeutic guidance while working (and learning) alongside my clients in the discovery process. The means may look like taking up a new hobby, or exploring thought paradigms through nature, games, sports, music, or movies. Therapy Plus will be led by me in partnership with certified personal trainers and nutritionists depending on the nature of the activity, but regardless of the activity, the focus will continue to be on mental health.

What to Expect

Please note that whether Therapy Plus will be beneficial for clients will be based on my psychological discretion, and will typically be recommended only upon completion of traditional clinical psychotherapy with me. Please contact me at waynechanpsyd@gmail.com with any questions or to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.

I expect my clients to be motivated to change and address difficult issues. During the first 1-2 sessions of clinical therapy, we will work together to identify goals and draw up a treatment plan. This will in turn help us come up with measures of progress. Not each session will adhere rigidly to the plan (treatment is often organic), but this gives us a guideline to keep us on the right track. What clients can expect from therapy depends primarily on their goals and, importantly, willingness to change, consider new ideas, and invest in their own growth. While many issues and ideas will be explored in session, significant work happens outside of session, when these concepts are applied. Because therapy may require a willingness to rethink or overhaul current thought patterns, clients may struggle in my sessions if they expect a neat answer, focus only on an outcome, or are looking for skills or concepts to work into an existing structure. I work hard for my patients, and I expect them to do the same.