About

The mission of Fully Human Counseling & Consulting (FHCC) is to support humans in their search to be and become fully human: to rediscover their core values, and their full range of strengths and abilities. Part of this process is to explore, understand, and integrate what holds us back in life. This is how we develop the capacity to creatively work with life as it comes. This may require building our capacity, or “window of tolerance” for facing life. We strive to do this in a way that is safe and gradual.

The foundation is a safe and deep therapeutic relationship. This involves forming a bond appropriate to the work, agreeing on the tasks and goals of therapy, and agreeing on the method for accomplishing these tasks and achieving these goals. We work to create a shared understanding of what your unique challenges and opportunities are, and how we want to address them.

Ultimately, a therapist should bring “presence” to the encounter of the therapeutic relationship. In therapy this is more than “focus” or “paying attention in the moment.” This involves creating a “holding” environment, marked by safety and sanctuary. Presence also involves helping to illuminate what strengths and values you have that are trying to emerge, and what may be holding you back.

The goal for many clients is to develop the capacity to be more fully present in their life, in their relationships, in their values and visions for themselves. For others, it is about developing the courage to use their most valued strengths, and perhaps developing their less valued strengths as well—for use when really needed.

Next comes engaging approaches to counseling. Chris is grounded in the “common factors” and in Existential-Humanistic therapy. He then integrates other approaches as indicated and as designed. See the Existential-Humanistic and Somatic Experiencing sections of this site for information on these modalities. A future version of this site will include more information on additional modalities Chris may utilize in his practice, such as: EMDR, CBT, dream work.

There are over 400 types of therapy. Chris practices Existential-Humanistic, Somatic, and dream work approaches as primary. He is then further informed by EMDR, CBT, and MI approaches and utilizes them as needed. The “common factors” are foundational to all. See the second figure on the left.

If you are seeking therapy, Chris recommends surveying the different types of therapy, and feeling into what resonates. Additionally, think a bit about the type of presence and support you may want or need from someone. For example, do you want someone more active, directive, and prone to give homework assignments? Or, do you want someone who will ask succinct open questions, and give you plenty of time and space to take the lead, not offering many solutions unless a crisis arises?

However, the modality is not as important as you and your therapist coming to a shared understanding, collaboratively, about what is going on and how to work on it. Chris does not come to sessions with rigid pre-conceived ideas about how to help you, or how to understand you. He does not take an approach to therapy off the shelf and apply it to you as soon as you sit down in his office. He gets to know you, and it emerges what therapy may be needed.

He shares on this website some about the modalities he tends to use so potential clients can get a general sense of where he is coming from and make an informed choice.

However—the type of therapy (and the therapist) are not the stars of the show! It is very important to always remember this. You are the hero of your journey, and Chris considers it an honor to be a support, and at times a guide, in your story for as long as makes sense. If you’ve read the “Divine Comedy,” he may be a helpful Virgil.

All approaches to therapy are employed with an ethic toward safety, appropriateness of fit, and utilizing the approach respectfully as it was designed. This is thoughtful integrative and depth-oriented therapy.