My Approach to Helping
I provide individual and group therapy to adults, with a focus on Women's Health, Chronic Illness and Pain, and Physician Stress and Burnout. My therapeutic goal is improved quality of life, however that may look for you.
Maybe you know exactly what you're looking for in therapy. Maybe you just know that you're desperately unhappy and alone and don't know what to do. My approach to therapy is flexible and individually tailored to each client. Some clients prefer a fairly structured approach, focused on learning new coping skills or ways to challenge negative thought patterns. Others prefer to engage in more open-ended talking sessions, with the therapist offering interpretations to assist the client in obtaining greater insight and understanding. Often clients find that different theoretical approaches resonate with them at different times or in different areas. I aim to meet clients where they're at and provide a safe and comfortable space for them to express needs and concerns.
With both a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Co-Occurring Disorders and a Doctorate of Medicine, I am uniquely qualified to provide support to physicians experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, or burnout. So many doctors are so unhappy, and yet so few seek help. Speaking confidentially with an experienced counselor who understands the medical world and can personally identify with the unique challenges of being a doctor might save your professional life, or more.
I am also uniquely qualified to work with clients with health issues, including chronic illness and pain, to gain a greater appreciation of how the mind and body work together (or against each other) to create disease and wellness. Is it "all in your head"? No... but also yes. You can learn to understand and exploit the "mind" part of the mind-body connection to decrease your pain and suffering and feel a greater sense of control over your symptoms.
In my first meeting with a new client, my most important goal is to help the client feel welcome and as comfortable as possible. Knowing that clients often feel ashamed or embarrassed to be coming to therapy, I strive to provide an encouraging and non-judgmental presence. My wish is that clients leave their initial session with me feeling a sense of hope and a belief that things can change for them.