Helping People Find Therapists & Advocating for Ethical and Healthy Therapy & Marriage Counseling Practices

My Approach to Helping

I am trained in various psychological theories and backgrounds and will use the combination of therapies that is best suited to each client. My preferred approach is to use cognitive behavioral techniques along with holistic mindfulness philosophy. This is useful for teaching people how to manage stress, anxiety, depression, mood swings, anger, difficult relationships, and situations that often lead to feeling out of control of your life.

We all face things in life that we cannot control, including things that are painful and stressful. Sometimes it feels like there is no other way to feel. However, what I've learned is that if you can understand what leads to your emotions and how the mind works, you can often improve your life. The best therapists are ones who are good at balancing the clients' need for self-acceptance with changing their lives for the better, and that is my goal.

 

More Info About My Practice

I am in the Dearborn office Mon, Fri, Sat. To schedule an appointment in Dearborn, call (313) 271-8170.

I am in the Westland office Wed, Thu. To schedule an appointment in Westland, call (734) 729-3133.

 

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

Most people have times in life when we get overwhelmed and confused by the changes or events we experience, whether through trauma or loss. Even good changes can be difficult to navigate. When that happens, even when surrounded by people who care, sometimes we feel obligated to keep up appearances of being happy, strong, and able to do it on our own. This may be out of a need to take care of others, to not make them worry, to not drag them down, or it may be out of a sense that we cannot really explain what is wrong because we feel no one would understand. Maybe we don’t even understand our own feelings, so it seems an overwhelming task to try to explain. Sometimes, we have tried to explain, but it didn’t work, either because we could not find the right words, or because the other person has never felt the same way and does not have the capacity to truly imagine the experience. What really motivates me to be a therapist is to be that person who understands, an ally, someone to help navigate through difficult times and emotions. I truly love the feeling of having been able to help someone through the journey of facing painful or difficult experiences and find the way through to the other side, to see the light on the other end of the tunnel. The journey may not always be easy, but it helps when you are not alone. When I am able to shine light on something that had been frightening while it was in the dark, the problems lose their power.

 

My Guiding Ethical Principles

My approach to therapy tends to be person-centered, which means that if you come to me for therapy, I respect your right to make your own decisions. This includes the treatment goals you have for yourself, the type of therapy you prefer, and the suggestions you are willing to try or not willing to try. In my style of therapy, it is not a therapist’s role to tell people what to do. Instead, I act like more of a consultant, so I would help you make decisions based on your own personal values and priorities, not based on my own or society’s values. Often, a person comes to therapy because of something they want to change in their lives. However, when confronted with what it takes to make the changes they thought they wanted, it can be daunting, overwhelming and this can make a person doubt themselves. When this occurs, it is important to talk to your therapist about what is happening. This way the obstacles can be brought out into the open and addressed more effectively. Perhaps it is necessary to take smaller steps and adjust to the desired changes more gradually. Perhaps you want to re-evaluate your goals or to change them. Sometimes you won't even know until it explored in therapy. It is also your decision when you feel ready to discontinue therapy. I hope that it is a result of feeling better and having met your goals, but it can be for any number of reasons. This is important to discuss.

Services I Provide

• Individual Therapy & Counseling

Ages I Work With

• Teens
• Adults
• Elders

Languages I Speak

• English

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy /REBT
• Humanistic Psychology
• Integration of different therapy models
• Mindfulness Based Approaches
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• Reality Therapy
• Solution Focused Therapy

Concerns & Issues I Help With

• Attachment
• Identity Issues
• Abuse: Emotional, Physical, or Sexual
• Trauma
• Occupational & Academic Issues
• Life Changes
• Health & Body
• Emotion Management
• Social Skills & Problems
• Anxiety, Fear, & Stress
• Depression & Mood
• Family Problems
• Childhood & Adolescence
• Relationships & Marriage
• Self-Esteem & Confidence
• Sexuality
• Spirituality