Leif Moa-Anderson (He/him)

When I took a certificate program in CBT, I realized that this it is how I automatically and already approached therapy.

DBT was born out of CBT and mindfulness, both of which I have studied separately. Getting certified in DBT, thus, seemed natural. I don't do the strict protocols of DBT, which is a group therapy, but I use a lot of the principles frequently.

My first love was philosophy. I believe that we all struggle with the existential conundrums of the human condition, whether we know it or not, and one or more of them is behind all mental and emotional angst.

You're going to change anyway, so you might as well be intentional about it. Free will doesn't come from your ability to control the external world, because you can't, and trying to do so to manage your internal world with only lead to anguish. Instead, work on managing your internal world and you will have a greater influence on the external world.

Anxiety is a natural part of existence for humans, in fact, you need it! However, there are existential concepts such as perfection, permanence, and fairness, that can create unresolvable anxiety. We can, however, learn to manage that anxiety caused by these infectious false concepts. I have helped many clients with OCD, social anxiety, and PTSD driven phobias. I use mindfulness based CBT to address the behaviors a systems perspective to address the cognitions.

Even if you truly want what is best for your partner(s), it's also important to want what is best for yourself, and it is inevitable that these things will seem to come into conflict. Even if we think we know what is best for others, we can't, it is up to them. It is hard enough to figure out what is best for ourselves, so please seek individual therapy first to help you that. Then the relationship therapy can begin and we can collaboratively find a way forward.

Whether you are a part of a couple (or poly) or just come in by yourself, or maybe it's about platonic or work relationships, this has been the main focus my academic studies. My Masters degree is actually in Systems Psychology, which is basically the perspective that an individual's psychology is driven, at least in part, by all of the systems with which they are connected or even have been connected. I have helped many clients improve their relationships with themselves and others.

There is a theory that all psychologic issues stem from attachment wounds and that everyone one has attachment wounds. Now, I'm not sure if that is really true, but we at least all have a first heartbreak. I have helped with deep attachment issues such as, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and chronic codependence. Your attachment wounds may not be that severe, but they are may still be negatively affecting your relationships in ways you don't realize.