POULSBO — Restoration.
When most people hear the word they think of an old house or building that needs work and repairs. Dan Pippinger envisions improved relationships.
Pippinger is a therapist who aims to put his clients first as they struggle to resolve issues between spouses, families and within themselves.
A recent graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a masters in science and marriage, family and individual therapy, he utilizes compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as the foundation to help people rebuild their lives.
In June, Pippinger opened Restoration Counseling Services in Poulsbo, making the best possible use of his life-long skill and the flexibility offered through a private business to assist his clients.
“My goal is to work with people on the problems they are going through,” he explained. “It’s a real collaborative effort between the clients and me.”
This effort neither begins nor ends in his Hostmark office though. It extends into everyday life, both for Pippinger and his clients.
This is one of the primary reasons why he decided to open his own counseling service.
“I felt I had more control and flexibility doing this on my own,” he explained.
This flexibility plays a crucial role in the services offered and without it, Pippinger might not be so successful.
Many counselors who work at larger offices tend to get too busy with their professional lives. This, he said, often translates into them “burning out” and losing focus on what is really important for a therapist — the client’s well being.
Taking a healthy approach to his own life gives Pippinger the correct tools to relate to the individuals and groups in a much more positive way as well.
“I want to come into the room with a sense of joy,” he said with a smile. Besides eating right and staying in shape, Pippinger also coaches wrestling at Bainbridge Island High School and is an avid soccer player. This balance helps him relate better to the people he works with, he believes, while making them feel not only comfortable, accepted, but focused.
Such ingredients are necessary in helping clients through tough times in their lives.
“It can be intense, but it can also be enjoyable. But it doesn’t have to be so intense that a client leaves here with an ulcer,” he said with a laugh.
Pippinger noted the importance of “stepping back” from a problem in order to shed new light and insight on it. The process, he added, allows him to ascertain what issues need focus and which ones are not as vital.
“People entering into therapy at Restoration Counseling Services will be viewed as valuable in who the are,” Pippinger said, noting that this fact makes his career much more than just a job.
“It was as if I was called to serve people through therapy,” he explained.
Pippinger works not only with individuals but families and couples as well. When asked whether it was more difficult to handle two or three people as opposed to just one, he replied, “It’s not harder — just more complex.”
Having more than one person does open some doors though, Pippinger remarked, noting that often times that extra person can offer valuable insights into the matter at hand.
In essence, counseling is a lot like soccer — although there is much less running, kicking and sweating involved. But both set goals and try to achieve them in the best way possible.
“These goals are set by the person. It’s a very individualized process,” Pippinger said. “My personal goal is not to have people in therapy forever. I hope to put myself out of work in a sense.”
“These goals are set by the person. It’s a very individualized process,” Pippinger said. “My personal goal is not to have people in therapy forever. I hope to put myself out of work in a sense.”
