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

My Approach to Helping

A problem is the problem: YOU are not the problem! I believe in looking at problems in the larger contexts of our lives and our surroundings. Sometimes problems overwhelm us and make us forget all the other parts of our lives.

In therapy, we can collaboratively address the concerns you have in your life and work together so that the actions you take are in accord with your values and the hopes you have for your life, your family and your future. Throughout these conversations, my goal is to work toward the goals you set for yourself and to work alongside you to find the meanings you want to make of the past and present. We also look for ways that therapy can bring more support into your life from your friends, partner, family, workplace and community and society. I believe that healing is an effort that thrives in a supportive environment which extends beyond the counseling room. Healing often involves standing up for what you believe is right.

If you were to ask people what they like about our conversations and how I help them, they may tell you that I am reliable and responsive. They might tell you that our conversations are genuine, respectfully humorous and have the surprising effect of making them feel better at the end of the hour. People appreciate that I speak during sessions and offer feedback.

Over the years, I have developed skills in talking with people about issues ranging from pre-marital jitters to recovery from childhood sexual abuse and family trauma. I work with many couples who find themselves at an impasse regarding decisions about marriage, having children and career changes. I also work with couples who are trying to overcome the effects of domestic abuse within the relationship. I work with individuals and families facing adjustments to immigration and family re-unification.

Sometimes I help people who are stuck in the middle of trying to complete a long-term project, such as a PhD dissertation or a novel. Together we develop clear weekly schedules with "keep-able commitments." I assist you to stay on track by witnessing your progress through letters, text or email messages.

People ask me, "How do you do it? Don't you get sad listening to difficult stories everyday?" Yes I do. It's hard to know how much suffering there is in the world. However, the people I talk to also inspire me with their courage, perseverance and patience. It is easy to forget this courage and perseverance when you are in your darkest hour. Therapeutic conversations can help strengthen your values and give you more energy to keep going.

Feel free to email me and schedule a brief phone call: we can speak on the phone and you will get a sense if I am the right therapist for you.

 

More Info About My Practice

My fees are reasonable and I work with you to make therapy affordable and not an added stress!

I am a member of two Employee Assistance Programs. I am not on any other insurance panels. If your insurance company provides out-of-network benefits, you can submit a receipt for my services to them for partial reimbursement. You will want to know your insurance deductible, what percentage of the cost the insurance company will reimburse and if there is a limit on the number of sessions they allow.

I have twelve years of experience in the field and have worked in non-profit social service agencies as well as in private practice. I have lived in Mexico, Texas and California and now live in Queens with my partner and toddler-aged daughter.

 

My Guiding Ethical Principles

Good therapy means we can both discuss nitty-gritty issues such as scheduling, money and how we talk with each other. I believe these are human issues that can be discussed; these issues do not necessarily reveal deeper meanings to me about who you are. I treat our relationship with respect and as a professional and fairly. I check in with you about how the therapy is going so that you have an open opportunity to tell me what you think. I also believe that once you would like to leave the therapy relationship, otherwise known as "termination," you have the right to make that decision and I support that choice.

 

My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'

My belief is that problems grow in social and cultural contexts. I believe that each of us lives in a particular neighborhood and family with a particular history. This multi-generational history involves many strands of influence from culture, class, ethnicity and religious values. It is all these values, aspirations and influences that inspire us and motivate us. They can also generate pressures that sometimes lead to a sense of overwhelm, dismay and un-ease. Of course, sometimes there are also physical factors that contribute to problems growing unmanageable. These factors may be some of our own genetic pre-dispositions which are often exacerbated by stress, lack of sleep and isolation. Through community, sharing and seeking justice, we can work together to find some measure of peace.

Services I Provide

• Individual Therapy & Counseling
• Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
• Family Therapy
• Coaching
• Clinical Supervision
• Online Counseling / Phone Therapy

Ages I Work With

• Children
• Teens
• Adults
• Elders

Languages I Speak

• English
• Spanish

Groups I Work With

I help people who are struggling to overcome issues of abuse and trauma, people trying to work out relationship questions, and people from other countries now living in the United States and managing cultural issues. I often work with parents, immigrants, families, and couples.

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Breathwork
• Client-Directed Outcome-Informed Therapy
• Collaborative Therapy / Collaborative Language Systems
• Family Systems Therapy
• Feminist Therapy
• Guided Therapeutic Imagery
• Mindfulness Based Approaches
• Narrative Therapy
• Positive Psychotherapy
• Relational Psychotherapy
• Solution Focused Therapy
• Systems Theory /Therapy

Concerns & Issues I Help With

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