I'm Tiffany McPherson, LCSW

and I am a depth-oriented psychotherapist.

Therapy is about creating a safe space that allows healing to happen naturally.  My goal is to create a safe container for your feelings and experiences to be held and honored.    I also know when to get 'out of the way' and just allow your soul to access the inner wisdom and truth that's inside.  This is the path to healing:  you contain the answers and wisdom; we only need to uncover them.

I'm not an expert on life's problems and I don't pretend to have all the solutions. What I do have is experience with suffering and helping others "make" meaning in their life journeys.   From my own path through divorce, remarriage and midlife, I know growth and healing is possible - but only if we are willing to examine our role in the drama of our lives.

It really helps to have an intuitive fellow traveler that can point out the road signs and reflect back to you the issues in your life that need special tending.   Sometimes we all struggle to see the blindspots.   If it's important to you to work with a therapist that is genuine and real, then we may be a good fit.

• I have a Master's Degree in Social Work from Loma Linda University (2001).
• I am Licensed Clinical Social Work (Idaho #30719).
• I have extensive training in Jungian depth psychology, and over 150 hours of training in SandPlay and the treatment of complex trauma, which includes a series of small 't' traumas that have accumulated over the lifespan.
• I am also trained in Attachment-Focused EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and practice it in a relational, natural and non-invasive way in my practice. Many of my clients have found tremendous relief from extreme anxiety, depression, trauma and distressing childhood memories through the use of EMDR techniques and reprocessing.
• I enjoy working with individuals, couples and with groups.  I have a particular passion for working with clients in midlife - which often involves examining our childhood and making connections to the here and now.
• I work with clients from all sexual orientations, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered clients.   I also work with clients from many religious orientations and those for whom religion is not a guiding orientation.   

What does it mean to be a Depth-oriented Psychotherapist?

• It basically means that much of the work we do together in therapy will focus on your "unconscious life".
• To put it simply, think of the image of an iceberg.
• The part of the iceberg that lies above the water is what is "conscious" in your life. This is what you are aware of moment to moment.  You are aware that you are reading these words or that you are sitting in a chair.
• The part of the iceberg that lies beneath the water’s surface is what is "unconscious" in your life. This is what lies outside of your immediate awareness, or what is hidden from your view.  This is where the work we do together lies.  People are often surprised to discover just how much of their waking behavior is motivated by unconscious drives and complexes.
• As we work together, I will ask you to pay attention to your inner life, to what lies beneath the surface. For example: feelings and thoughts that kick in when you are sad or anxious.  Automatic responses to situations.  Ways that you think about the world, yourself and those around you.  Or when you get extremely angry or sad “for no apparent reason.”  When you have a strong, emotional reaction that “comes out of nowhere” or seems to have a life of its own..... all of that is connected to your unconscious and is the area we will reflect on together.
• I will also ask you to reflect on your past and tell me about patterns you notice about yourself.  This can be particularly helpful if you have strong memories from childhood that are distressful to you or unresolved trauma.
• We will explore what is easiest and most difficult for you in relationships and how you comfort yourself when you are upset.
• Together we will work on imagery and symbolism that arises out of your unconscious and discover the unique meaning that it holds for you at this point in your life's journey.
• Dreams are connected to the unconscious as well and clients who choose to make their night time dreams a part of therapy have found that it enriches and deepens the therapy experience.  I encourage my clients to keep a dream journal so that we can explore together the personal symbolic meaning of your dreams.
• SandPlay and other expressive art activities are tools we have available when working together in a depth approach - they help to move the process along and bring issues to the surface for attention in therapy.

Please contact me to schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation to see if I might be a good fit for you.  Call (208)709-3164 or email me at tifflcsw@yahoo.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!