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

My Approach to Helping

There are times when life circumstances, difficult relationships or "road blocks" in people's lives exceed a person's ability to cope and live as they would like. Setting aside a time and place to talk to someone about our troubles and our worries helps people of all ages overcome these difficulties and grow in the process. I use a psychodynamic approach, helping people understand themselves in the context of their own history as well as their present environment. The shape of the conversations is tailored to what each client brings to therapy and what will work best for them at a given time. Sometimes the support is in the form of concrete information or connections to resources if needed. In the specific case of therapy with young children, my work is primarily through the language of play and art. It is my belief that people have much within themselves that can heal and guide and clarify. We tap into this rich reservoir together, with intelligence, curiosity, respect, and humor.

 

More Info About My Practice

Working with children is a gift and a delight and I am always grateful for the trust their parents and caregivers place in me and in the process. It's important to note that work with children includes collaboration with their parents and caregivers as well, because they are the most important and influential people in their children's lives. The goal is not only alleviating a particular problem for the child, but to support and enhance the family as a whole. The two go together. Meetings with parents from time to time to support them as caregivers is a part of the process.

My fees are reimbursed by insurance. I accept payment through PayPal.

 

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

I do believe that despite the many strengths and capabilities of human beings, our early years don’t prepare us with ready answers for everything we experience in our lives. There are inevitably times when we need a little help to find our way. It doesn’t mean we are inherently flawed, or “crazy.” It usually means we need to take a step back and make time and space to sort out what’s troubling us – or what’s troubling our family, or our children. If a person is considering therapy, they are probably experiencing a problem with which they want help. They are giving the decision careful consideration and that ambivalence is an uncomfortable, yet normal state for a thoughtful person making an important decision. While that decision is important, it is good to remember it is not set in stone. If you determine it ‘s not what you need at this time, you can stop. If the fit between you and your therapist isn’t a good fit, you can change therapists. The beauty of therapy is, you can take all of yourself, your ambivalence, your concerns etc, into the therapy because it’s all part of who you are at this time in your life.

 

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

Each person’s situation is truly unique and the time spent in therapy varies with each individual. It often depends on the person’s goals and what happens in their lives once the therapy has begun. If a client decides to leave therapy, it does not mean that the client can never come back, or return to therapy at some later date with another therapist. It just means we’re done for now. It is important to keep in mind that the client ultimately chooses when therapy is complete. Ideally, the client and therapist will have a conversation about ending the therapy and agree on an end date, then spend a few sessions looking back over the time in therapy and put closure on the experience and the relationship.

Services I Provide

• Individual Therapy & Counseling
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Online Counseling / Phone Therapy

Ages I Work With

• Children
• Teens
• Adults
• Elders

Languages I Speak

• English

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Creative Art Therapy
• Dreamwork & Dream Analysis
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Mindfulness Based Approaches
• Narrative Therapy
• Parent Work
• Play Therapy
• Psychodynamic
• Relational Psychotherapy
• Self Psychology

Concerns & Issues I Help With

• Life Changes
• Emotion Management
• Social Skills & Problems
• Anxiety, Fear, & Stress
• Attachment
• Occupational & Academic Issues
• Family Problems
• Childhood & Adolescence
• Depression & Mood
• Identity Issues
• Self-Esteem & Confidence
• Health & Body