Nancy Newport LPC, LMFT

My Approach to Psychotherapy

As a psychotherapist, I work collaboratively with clients — families, couples, and individuals, finding effective solutions to the life concerns that bring people to therapy. I have an expertise in change work as well as personal growth work and am committed to assisting clients to move in the direction that they choose. My approach is direct, respectful, optimistic and pragmatic.

I have a specialty in marriage and family therapy and in working with people who have recently or long ago experienced a trauma such as rape/assault/attack as well as childhood trauma.

Individual Therapy

The most important relationship any of us will ever have is the one we have with ourselves. Getting to know ourselves better, healing old wounds that keep us from being or having what we long for, can be the bravest and most fulfilling inner journey we ever launch. There is a lot of focus on creating outer makeovers yet the most gratifying makeover or even touch up you will ever engage in will be the one you create inside you. I invite you to imagine your life without the barriers that may currently stand in the way of you achieving your fondest desires. I would like to help you build a solid bridge across that gap to experience the life, the experiences, the choices you were born to create.

Young Adults 

I have a great affinity for the age group of young adults. This is a developmental stage that requires a transition into more independent living. Most of us at this age feel somewhat reluctant to seek family guidance and support, as it makes us feel more dependent rather than more of the independence we seek. Yet, we’re not ready to launch ourselves without some sound guidance to help us stay focused on our own “True North”.

Young adults leaving home for the first time notice issues surfacing that come to their attention in a bigger way now that they are on their own. Common issues that surface are about self-esteem, relationships, safety, decision making, problem solving, spirituality, and getting along with family.

We tend to all need guidance about relationships, particularly romantic relationships. We in this society still have a tendency to lose ourselves in relationship and this is particularly true in the early romantic relationship we form. Young adults can benefit from an increased awareness of the dynamics of their relationship and communication tools to enhance them. Identification of problematic patterns that evolve in relationship and ways to interrupt and eliminate those patterns set us up for more relationship success in the future. An investment in counseling at this life stage may even serve to prevent a poor marriage choice down the road. The more aware we are of our worth, the higher our self-esteem, we more we attract people into our lives who value us and respect us and see that worthiness. This can go a long way toward contributing to our greater happiness in our future.

There is much to master in life, including learning how to negotiate our way in a larger world with rules and hidden agendas that we may not fully appreciate or understand. Successful independence includes keeping ourselves safe, not being vulnerable to situations that could compromise our autonomy, our control over ourselves. Many young people leave home not fully equipped to accomplish this. An excellent book is The Gift of Fear by Gavin deBecker available at http://www.amazon.com.

Couples Therapy

In relationships, we all experience times of feeling “not connected” to one another. It is essential to notice when communication is not working and to seek assistance if necessary to get back on track, so we don’t continue to drift apart. When two people are committed to one another and to their relationship, these inevitable times of feeling out of touch can be seen as opportunities to go to a deeper level with one another. The journey of inner work and discovery when done as a couple can greatly enrich the relationship and deepen the bond of commitment.

Premarital Counseling

I work with churches, ministers and couples to “tailor make” a course in Preparation for Marriage for couples who prefer private classes rather than group preparation classes. Specific areas are targeted that they identify as the most needed by them. With my guidance, a course is created of four to eight sessions to address these issues as well as others that I may suggest or recommend. What a wonderful way to begin marriage — a foundation created together, complete with realistic expectations and goals. Potential problems are predicted and prepared for. Couples leave the course armed with many new tools to help them create the relationship they both desire with strong spiritual underpinnings to strengthen their commitment.

Having worked in therapy in this way, couples are more likely to access couples counseling in the future if they find themselves getting off track.

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."
Desmond Tutu