Mr. Jack Arbuckle

Licensed Professional Counselor Associate|Clinically Supervised

I operate primarily from an Adlerian approach to counseling, incorporating techniques from play therapy and evidence-based practices such as CBT and Gestalt therapy as fitting for my clients' needs. I recognize that all this therapy jargon can be confusing to sift through, so here's the key takeaways you should know: (1) I believe that therapy works best as an equal partnership between you and I, where you are seen as the expert on your own experiences and needs; (2) I believe in the importance of encouragement and support within the therapeutic space; and (3) I believe that our struggles tend to arise from our attempts to remedy unmet needs in our lives—needs such as connection, capability, or the courage to face what life throws our way. My work focuses on identifying this underlying need and working together to determine more effective ways of addressing that area of your life.

Lately, I've been hooked on a show called Ted Lasso (a show which I would wholeheartedly recommend to just about anyone). In that show, there's a quote that has been continuously ringing in my mind ever since I heard it: "Human beings are never gonna be perfect. The best we can do is to keep asking for help and accepting it when you can. And if you keep on doing that, you'll always be moving towards better." The truth is, mental health is complicated. We don't always have concrete, visible signs of change or glowing signs indicating that things are suddenly better. What we have instead is a process of continued and gradual growth—growth which can sometimes be easier for others to notice than ourselves. Are you putting in the work to improve yourself? Are you feeling a little bit lost than you did before, even if there's still work to do? Are you taking time to recognize your victories and strengths, even while we take accountability for our errors? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you ARE making progress. The rest, we'll tackle as a team.

There are a LOT of movies and books that have influenced my approach, but the one that started it all was Good Will Hunting. Certainly, no movie is going to be a perfect representation of therapy—we have therapy for that. Even so, this movie hit what I consider to be the core foundation of counseling in a way that very few manage to do: the warmth, the unconditional acceptance of the client, and the importance of trust in the therapeutic relationship. So many of us need help in our lives, but it can be difficult to find places or people where we feel seen, understood, and accepted. In my practice, trust and acceptance are the core foundations. Come as you are, and we'll figure out how to navigate your struggles together.