My Approach to Helping
I feel privileged to work with individuals, couples, and groups as a psychologist. Entering therapy takes courage. The process initially may feel awkward but it is often the first step toward creating a better, more satisfying life your yourself. Earlier in my career I focused on helping individuals create relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and community as a means of promoting self-understanding, confidence and ultimately, giving meaning to life. As time has gone one, I have expanded my work to include an emphasis on synthesizing intellectual insight with emotional awareness - combining knowledge from the head and the heart - to lead one toward healing and growing. This also includes working on an awareness of the difference between facts and feelings and expanding one's ability to confront and tolerate complicated issues. I have found this work, while sometimes difficult, to be enriching and beneficial. The gains you make in therapy, in my experience, translate to a variety of settings throughout your lifetime.
More Info About My Practice
I practice in two locations.
I am in Bethesda Mondays and Wednesdays as well as Thursday mornings.
I am in Dupont Circle Tuesday afternoons, Thursday afternoons, and Fridays.
As a certified group psychotherapist, I run five groups.
There are two co-ed groups in Bethesda on Monday (Monday evening and Thursday morning)
There is one women's group in Bethesda (Wednesday evening)
There are two co-ed groups in Dupont Circle (Tuesday late afternoon and Friday early morning)
I am not in in-network provider on any insurance plan. I provide an "insurance ready" bill at the end of each month but my clients reimburse me directly.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
Anxiety
Depression
Career Transitions
PressuresBenefits of working as an attorney
Work-Life Balance
Addictions such as work, exercise, food, sex, drugs and alochol
Complusive, self-defeating behaviors
Eating Disorders
Relationships
Marriage Counseling
Group Dynamics
Work Satisfaction
Loneliness
Development of purpose and vision
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
I believe that going to therapy indicates: 1) self awareness; 2) the willingness to admit a problemflawconcernpainfear; 3) the flexibility and humility to understand that no one is perfect; and, 4) the clarity to admit that there are things that are troubling, painful, andor sometimes out of control. In other words, going to therapy is an acknowledgement to oneself that one needs or could benefit from assistance.
When individuals are not familiar with therapy it's easy to confuse vulnerability with weakness. You may confuse the process of stating your concerns with being whiny or complaining and the fact that you have a need with being overly needy and dependent.
In fact, going to therapy is often the opposite. It's the strength to search for the truth, confront things head on, figure out what you can change and what you need to accept, and then implement the changes you've identified. That may be be difficult but it is surely not a reflection of weakness.
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
As therapy requires commitment of energy, time, financial and emotional resources, the selection of a therapist is obviously important. I advise anyone looking for a therapist to consider that they way they feel about their prospective therapist is equally, if not more, important than that individual's technical andor philosophical orientation. In other words, I believe it's important to think about whether you feel that the therapist "gets you" and understands the issues you are bringing into therapy. I do not think that anyone should choose to see me or any therapist because of their long list of achievements or publications but rather because they feel seen and understood. This does not mean that clients are always happy with their therapist! I ask my clients to discuss their feelings with me when they notice they are annoyed, disappointed, or happy with the way I have responded to them. Establishing a relationship built on honesty and trust is critical to both the working alliance between client and therapist and as a model for outside relationships that go on after the therapeutic relationship has ended.
