Igneous Solutions
Solid strategies for health and wellness
1707 Belle View Blvd. #A-2, Alexandria, VA 22307
571-238-6762
Igneous Solutions
Solid strategies for health and wellness
1707 Belle View Blvd. #A-2, Alexandria, VA 22307
571-238-6762
Michelle S. Albert, LPC, CSOTP, CCFP
More than 25 years of practical experience as a therapist, supervisor, speaker and instructor has given me the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people in many different settings. My specialties include trauma and forensics and I am well-versed in the unique wellness challenges faced by law enforcement, first responders, military and their family members.
I serve adult individuals and couples, in person and virtually by appointment.
My approach is person-centered, and I have been trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and Narrative Exposure Therapy
Therapeutic Philosophy
What Rocks Are In Your Bucket?
A wise man told a young girl the story of the Rocks in the Bucket. He explained that everyone is born with an invisible bucket and as they move through life, they pick up rocks that can weigh them down. Problems, challenges, difficult jobs and toxic relationships can become rocks in a person's bucket. The goal in life, the man explained, is to have the least amount of rocks in your bucket so you can enjoy yourself fully.
The man went on to explain that some people, through kindness, will offer to carry the rocks of others but may not give them back, adding to their own bucket. He also cautioned the girl about people who will figure out that they can sneak their own rocks into the buckets of others, just to be rid of the weight.
When one's bucket becomes too full, they are no longer able to move. They seem "stuck" and often feel helpless, frustrated and overwhelmed. The man instructed the girl to take a look at the rocks often, decide which ones to own, which ones to fix, which ones to ignore and which ones to return. This, he said, is the way to live a happy life.
Essentially, this is what we will do in therapy. Therapy is a lot of work and life is not a rock-less proposition. By looking at the rocks in our bucket, identifying them and learning adaptive management strategies, we can increase our wellness and improve our quality of life.
