My Approach to Helping
My approach to helping is to provide clients unconditional positive regard and meet the client where he or she is and what they want to change or improve. I use a variety of techniques to improve client well-being and self-efficacy. I believe that clients have the skills they need to improve their lives, they just haven't recognized them yet. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and adults to reach their full potential.
I also work with families and couples. My theoretical approaches to therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. I use play therapy with children and adolescents because they sometimes do not have the vocabulary to express their real feelings and emotions. I also use person-centered approaches and I have a large repertoire of counseling techniques to use to successfully to meet the unique needs of an increasingly diverse clientele. My clients are located in Hampton Roads, primarily Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. I can be reached throughout the week from 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and work on weekends by appointment only.
More Info About My Practice
I often assign clients "ownwork" to practice between sessions to fulfill their treatment goals. Clients need to practice new behaviors between sessions in order resolves self-defeating behaviors and increase well-being. This approach is evidence-based, i.e., it is proven to help clients integrate new coping skills into their behavioral repertoire to make change and grow as a person and move in a more positive direction. Sometimes it just means "changing your playground and your playmates" to see positive changes in your life. Sometimes people can be toxic and work environments can be unresponsive to employee needs.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I am especially skilled with children and adolescents. They are often more open with their thoughts, feelings and life issues and are willing to try new things to make their future outlook more productive. My philosophy is that "your present situation is not your permanent situation and you have the resources within you to change." I am also a Diplomate and Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Child and Adolescent Counseling, and I am a registered play therapist.
I am also skilled with working adults, families, especially step families, blended families and extended families, as well as couples ( from premarital couples to couples with enduring relationships that may be experiencing "a bump in the road)."
How Psychotherapy Can Help
Psychotherapy helps a client work toward solutions and improve their overall well-being. I help clients focus on thoughts, feelings and life issues. I often use "ownwork" to practice skills clients can do between sessions to change behaviors and become more confident and reach wellness goals. I use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Solution Brief Counseling so clients can examine how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, which involves changing a person's reactions to challenging irrational thoughts or situations. I also use a variety of other techniques because "one size does not fit all." I have published a book entitled "Counseling Techniques: Improving Relationships with Others, Ourselves, Our Families and Our Environment" (3rd ed. 2015) because counseling is all about our relationships and difficult situations that may exist between ourselves, others, our families and our environment. I have collected over 500 techniques that I use to meet the diverse needs of my clients inn various situations. My experience in the public schools, teaching on the university level and experience in private practice has given me many therapeutic resources to help all clients from all situations and circumstances.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.