Jonathan E Scarboro (he/him)

My Approach to Helping

Sacrificing who we actually are in pursuit of who we think we should be can lead to alienation from ourselves, emotional distance from others, and a variety of behaviors in conflict with our actual goals and values. In some cases, parts of us may split off and become hidden beneath our awareness. Excavating and reintegrating these lost or buried aspects of ourselves can be a critical step towards overall well-being, and is crucial for our higher functions. I believe that forming deep connections with other people while remaining true to ourselves is essential to the changing and healing process. I will model this throughout our time together by bringing my authentic self into each session, talking with you frankly and openly, and looking for ways to draw out your fullness and complexity. My most important job as a counselor is to create a safe container for care and challenge to build upon each other at a pace that feels approachable to you.

Why I Became a Therapist

Perhaps you’re having trouble connecting with other people or you’re doing self-destructive things but can’t understand why. Or maybe you’re numb to both pleasure and pain like you’re living life on autopilot. Or you have no idea what direction you’re headed in and no clue how to know what makes sense for you. All of these were true for me when I first started seeing a counselor during a stressful period involving the near-simultaneous dissolution of my marriage and business partnership. Though I initially resisted the idea of being in therapy, I eventually came to see it as a powerful gift. It now brings me great joy to offer this gift in turn. My clinical approach to creative recovery and unblocking is informed by my counselor training and my experience as a visual artist. For what it’s worth, I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts, co-founded an interdisciplinary artist collective, worked at a major museum in Manhattan, and served as an arts programming director.