problems with finder

Mac Studio M2 Max

96 GB

running Sequoia 15.1.1

I keep everything up to date always. Ever since the previous OS, I have started having problems with finder. About the only way to get a finder window open for me is to click and hold the finder icon, then select a new finder window.

I can't, for example, use "open" on the trash. Nothing happens. Actually, cannot view trash as a result.

This has been going off or about the last year or so, just sort of ignored it thinking the latest updates OS15, etc would eventually resolve the issue.

Not so.

I have repeatedly done the command-option-esc route and restarted the finder.

New computer, new updated os, but barely functioning finder.

Suggestions?

Thanks for any help you can offer.