My approach is built on a strong foundation of deep respect, compassion, understanding and empathy for people. Without this foundation, therapeutic work will not be successful. My focus is on assisting people in finding and developing their strengths to help them to deal with their issues, including addressing how these issues may be holding them back from the life they wish to live. I believe strongly that the best therapeutic relationship is an equal partnership between the client(s) and myself; that we need to work cooperatively to establish goals and facilitate the changes necessary in achieving those goals. My therapeutic framework strongly considers the roles that others play or have played in our lives. None of us exists in isolation; we all impact and are impacted by those around us, especially our families.
While I enjoy working with a wide variety of clients, I am particularly interested in working with families that are dealing with cancer, including young children through senior citizens. I encountered my first cancer patients as a nurse in 1982. I was inexplicably drawn to them; I continue to be drawn almost 30 years later. I see people with cancer from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. I also see people who are in hospice care or nearing the end of their lives, and will see them in their homes if necessary, location permitting. Additionally, I see people who are dealing with grief. I am also very interested in helping parents help their children through cancer (whether it is the parent or the child that is ill), or other difficult times. As a parent myself, I know that we often have the best of intentions, but may lack knowledge of the best ways to help our children.
