Psychotherapy

Areas of Expertise:



  • Relationship Issues
  • Anxiety & Depression
  • Trauma & Loss
  • Grief
  • Stress Management
  • Work Issues
  • Separation & Divorce
  • Alcohol & Drug Issues

Linda Winship has 40+ years of experience as a therapist in both inpatient and outpatient settings in the Atlanta area since 1981. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Psychology and from Columbia University with a M.S. in social work. She lives in Marietta, is married, has two young adult sons and two dogs.



"My experience, supported by research, shows that most people benefit from therapy. The benefits can be relief from painful problems and a fuller, happier experience of relationships and life in general. This is what I hope for, and work for in my practice."

"How long should therapy last? Generally people seek therapy for specific problems, while others are interested in personal growth, or maintaining a positive level of functioning. When a specific problem is the focus, therapy can be brief, often six to twelve sessions. More general issues of living usually require a longer time to address."


"It is of practical value to learn to like yourself. Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship." - Norman Vincent Peale


"Everything has been figured out, except how to live."  - Jean-Paul Sartre

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."  - E.B. White

Philosophy

Having worked with people in therapy for over thirty years, I have definite convictions about how the process works. Here are some things I often say when first meeting a prospective client:

My philosophy as a therapist is that all people have issues, and issues cause pain and suffering, but also make people interesting. The important part is that if we understand our issues we can work on them and recognize when they challenge us in life.

I believe we are born with a basic character or temperament which is then shaped by life experience, especially the family we grow up in. Therapy increases awareness of both temperament and life experience, but awareness alone is not enough, we need to take positive action to create change.

I do not use one particular therapy style or approach. I have been trained in many, and as I get to know you, I will use an approach that I believe will be most help to you.

 I believe in an interactive process. Most people who come into therapy want feedback from their therapist and are looking for more than someone to comfort them. I will challenge you and your thinking in a tactful, non--judgmental, caring manner. I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt and always allowing people to save face.

I welcome feedback from the client and want to know what you are finding to be helpful or not helpful to you about the process. For example, if I ask questions that you are not comfortable answering you can certainly tell me so.

In working with couples and families I believe that it takes two (or more, in the case of families) to have a good relationship, a and two or more to have problems. It is easier to point one’s finger at another and always more difficult to look at the role one is playing in creating the issues. I will help you to begin examining this.

So, how do we begin?

I consider the first three sessions to be evaluation/assessment, during which time I am getting to know you, but in important ways you are getting to know me, too.

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