Happiness should be our default mood in life. But along the way we all have experiences that knock the wind out of us emotionally. In those moments a part of our brain (called our limbic system), takes over in an effort to protect us by moving us away from what hurts and toward things that bring a better mood. This “emotional brain” is very powerful, but unsophisticated. In fact it operates at an intellectual level of a 2 year old. It drives us toward avoidance and immaturity and that usually doesn’t make us happy in the long run.

We imagine that we are helpless to improve our lives, that one misfortune means everything will always be bad, that if we aren’t perfect we should stop trying or that we should permanently rage about the life’s unfairness instead of getting up and doing something to create a better life. These overly-negative beliefs multiply like weeds in our mind and upset our mood terribly.

But If we learn to balance our emotionally based thinking with higher cognitive skills, we can recover from painful experiences and thrive. In therapy I help you catch distorted beliefs secretly running rampant in your mind and help you challenge them with balanced truth, so you think right and act right and eventually feel right. The results are transformative… but it’s not easy to do without some help.

While the profession of Psychology used to be about fixing mental disorders, the exciting work for me is helping relatively healthy people live an optimal life. I call it “Thrive Psychology”. It allows you to feel whole and gives you the power to weather life difficulties and feel confident and joyful by default.

While they train us, (as therapists) to be Scientists, effective therapy is also an Art. It requires the ability to understand someone fully and communicate in a way that enlightens and motivates. A gifted therapist can be one of the greatest assets in your life. He or she offers benefits that rival any offered in the health care field. They add quality to your years, not just quantity. They restore meaning, not just movement. They allow you to function and flourish. The goal is to recreate the pleasure in living we’re intended to feel.

I want to listen to my clients, but I don’t just listen. I care, but I don’t just care. I teach them proven strategies to survive difficulties, connect with others, achieve what matters most to them and thrive in life. That’s what makes us different. I hope to have the pleasure of knowing you and helping you enjoy the valuable life you’ve been given.

Kind regards,

Jeff Rindt, M.A. LPC

Director of Jeff Rindt & Associates