Get to know Diana
Hear from Diana on her style, typical client, and wins
Q: What are your clients dealing with? What made them decide to actually seek help?
A: My clients have often been getting by and making things work in a world where there is a lot expected of them. They’ve been told, “you need to do this” or “you can’t do that” and have a very limited view of how to achieve success. They end up coming to me because they feel stuck, they’re suffocating trying to navigate these “rules,” and they feel disconnected and confused about what they’re doing it for.
Q: How do you help these clients?
A: I see my role as a person who is staunchly on my client’s side, even when the clients themselves are not. I am the person to help them see what rules of engagement they’ve been operating under, and then to question if they still want to abide by them. If they don’t wish to continue that way, I believe in their ability to redefine success and achieve it. There may be skills and strategies I share to help navigate these unknowns and potentially difficult conversations. I also call out clients to be realistic– not just when their expectations may overshoot what’s possible, but also when they underplay what they’re capable of.
“My clients have often been getting by and making things work in a world where there is a lot expected of them.”
Q: What do clients say you’re good at? Why do they appreciate your work?
A: I’m real with my clients– I can’t hide my facial expressions and I rarely try to. So clients know that I say what I mean. I’m good at using metaphors and rephrasing what I’ve heard to show understanding, validate, and deepen insight. Clients have also shared that they appreciate that we can reference pop culture and talk about what’s going on in the “real world”.
Q: What’s a common moment of success for your clients that shows their progress?
A: I love (and my clients know I love) when someone comes in and mentions that they did something that has been difficult for them. I know they are making progress when I hear about ways they’ve been brave, more self-compassionate, or open-minded.
“I know they are making progress when I hear about ways they’ve been brave, more self-compassionate, or open-minded.”
Q: What’s your favorite kind of moment with clients?
A: I really enjoy the moments when I get to help my clients see things in a different way. Sometimes it’s by pointing out something that the client has done well and they have the moment of self-recognition and “oh yeah, I DID do that!” or by pointing out an inconsistency in their beliefs that is contributing to their stuckness.
Q: What’s a hot take you have about something in the therapy world?
A: People say, “Everyone should be in therapy”. While I’m glad that these people have found the support of therapy beneficial for them, I don’t believe that people need to be in therapy when they are not in distress and have no goal. I see the goal of therapy to be that the client no longer needs therapy because they have the support and skills in their life and social circles. It is sad to see clients go, especially when we’ve developed a strong therapeutic relationship, but I’m not intended to be a friend for someone to keep with them through their life.
