OAK ARBOR COUNSELING AND LIFE COACHING

Lani Gilbert, MA, LMFT
431 Second Street, Ste. 8
Solvang, CA 93463
Office: 805-686-0151
Fax: 805-686-0152
Email:lani@oakarbor.net

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to this webpage. Much like the journey of life, this page is a work in progress, and will continue to grow as time goes on. If you have come to visit, chances are you are seeking a change in your life, in a relationship you are in, or have found yourself facing a challenge that feels overwhelming. Or perhaps you have questions about counseling or coaching, in general. While I can't answer it all, hopefully I can begin to provide you with some of the information you seek.

License:
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. My license number is MFC32318.

Experience:
I have over twelve years of experience working with individuals, children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. I have worked extensively with individuals and their families who are dealing with brain disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression.

I have also have worked with individuals and families struggling with issues with adjustment, attachment, abandonment, grief and loss, as well as physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse.

Education and Training:
1990 BS, Human Services, California State University, Fullerton
1991 MA, counseling Psychology, National University, San Diego, California
2000 Certification, Internet Therapy
2001 Graduate, Institute of Life Coaching

Associations and Community Service:
American Association of Christian Counselors
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
National Association for the Mentally Ill
International Society for Mental Health Online
Provider, Operation Comfort (Provides free counseling to families of those serving overseas)

Focus:
I am a Christian therapist and combine Biblical principles with psychological concepts to assist clients to address and resolve those issues that negatively impact their ability to grow and live in accordance with God's plan for their lives. I utilize the Paracentric focus, which recognizes Christ as the center of the counseling experience and the principle role model for both the client and myself. I believe the Holy Spirit is present in every session, will come alive when invited into the session, and will lead the way. With this guidance, counseling becomes focused on change that occurs from the inside out. It can be a transforming experience that will help to resolve the pain and suffering of present situations, and assist in growth in intimacy, faith, and confidence in relationships with others and with God.

Modalities:
I am eclectic in my approach to counseling. No one theory is right for all clients, and it is important that interventions and techniques are tailored to their specific needs. I tend to use the following modalities in my work.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: looking at the distortions in our thinking, and how it affects our daily lives. Work concentrates on changing those thought process to improve both the quality and the level of functioning in daily life. In Christian therapy, the focus is on renewing minds in order to live lives in line with biblical truths.

Narrative therapy: The use of stories, fables, historical events, etc., to illustrate situations and the issues being addressed. Christian therapy the focus is on the stories and metaphor in the Bible, and the lives of biblical and church figures as they relate to the issues being addressed.

Logo therapy: use of paradox and the universal search for meaning, value, and purpose. In Christian therapy, the search would focus on Christ's purpose for our lives.

Interpersonal and systems theory: Marriage and family system dynamics as well as contributions from developmental and social psychology. In Christian therapy god's plan for families, marriage, and relationships is focused on.