My Approach to Helping
Life can be difficult. Let me help.
I understand that life can become difficult and stressful. And certain situations can be overwhelming. I am here to start you on the path to owning your success. Through questioning, discussing, goal setting and counseling, we will work together to assess your business or personal issue and work to resolve it.
The road to owning your success takes dedication, hard work, education and change. I will help you experience success in dealing with personal issues, professional problems, relationship conflicts, disaster and trauma, and corporate mishaps.
I am a licensed, professional mental health counselor who is committed to helping my patients find the answers they are looking for through solution-focused therapy. I specialize in psychological counseling services, traumatic stress disorders, disaster and emergency management services, corporate counseling and public safety. I proudly serve Northern Delaware and all surrounding areas.
More Info About My Practice
Dennis is a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health, a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress, and a Diplomate for the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.
Currently, he is the Executive Director of New Perspectives, Inc., a private counseling agency in Delaware, and served on the faculty of Penn State University, Brandywine Campus, for 15 years. He is a Vice President and Principal Consultant for SSC Consulting. Dennis is a trained trainer for Crisis Care Network. He is the Founder and CEO of the Trauma Survivors Foundation. He serves on three international trauma firms.
Dennis is a former Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician and a former Emergency Medical Technician with the state of Delaware. He is a former volunteer Fire Fighter. Dennis serves as a LAST member for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation in conjunction with the National Fire Academy. He is the clinical director and team coordinator of the New Castle, Kent, and Sussex County CISM teams as well as the Wilmington Police and New Castle County Police CISM teams, the AI DuPont CISM team, and the State of Delaware CISM team. Dennis is the State CISM Chairman for the Delaware Volunteer Fireman's Association. He is the President of the Wilmington West Rotary Club. He is listed in the National Center for Crisis Management’s directory of expert witnesses and premiere speakers bureau.
He has attended Millersville University, Temple University, and Walden University. Dennis has conducted numerous debriefings in domestic as well as international disasters, shootings, bombings, bank robberies, corporate incidents, school disasters, and Fire, EMS, Police tragedies including, but not limited to, the attacks on the WTC in NYC, the Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings, the Boston Marathon Bombings, the DC Navy Yard shootings, the Paramus Park mall shootings, the Pulse Night Club shooting, the Hurricane Harvey Relief efforts, the Annapolis shootings, and Las Vegas shootings.
My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy
Some people grapple and resist the idea of going to a therapist because they simply do not understand the process of therapy. Clients find themselves asking a myriad of internal questions such as: what?s actually going to take place. Who will initiate; and how long will the session be? New Perspectives, Inc. is dedicated in helping individuals identify and resolve issues which cause distress and concern. We want our clients to be well informed on what to expect during therapy and the types of therapeutic techniques used to facilitate treatment. Our goal for this process is to enable the patient to make an informed decision as well as lesson the anxiety of what to expect during the therapeutic process itself.
While it may not be easy to seek help from a therapist, it is hoped the patient will be better able to understand hisher situation and feelings and move toward resolving difficulties. We use our knowledge of human development and behavior, to make observations about situations as suggestions for new ways to approach them.
We work closely with primary care physicians in order to help the patient become mentally and physically healthy. Typically, clients are seen on a weekly basis and updates are provided to their primary care physicians. We will give weekly assignments, perform psychological tests and measures, and will facilitate family visits in order to continue the positive progress of the patient.
Treatment Approaches
Individual: This therapy involves only the patient and the therapist.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Can help clients deal with un-resolved mental illness usually stemming from childhood. The goal of this type of therapy can help clients understand feelings by talking about experiences. Psychodynamic therapy can also resolve mental illness caused by
Relationship conflicts
Loss (grief)
Role transitions (becoming a mother or caregiver).
Anxiety issues
Panic attacks
Social and specific phobias
Sleep issues
Cognitive Behavioral: Ideally used for clients with mental illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps the patient establish new ways of thinking and behaving by re directing attention to correct and incorrect assumptions they make about themselves and others. Cognitive?behavioral therapy is recommended for clients:
Of all ages that have mental illness that causes interpersonal problems, disability, or suffering.
Depression.
Who behave and think in ways that trigger and perpetuate mental illness
Who refuse or are unable to take medication.
Interpersonal Therapy: focuses on behavior with family and friends. The goal is to enhance communication skills;
and build self-esteem during a short period of time. Interpersonal therapy is recommended for clients:
Who have marital issues
Who are going through a divorce or custody battle
Who are changing jobs or careers
Who are moving away from home or entering college
