More Info About My Practice

In addition to providing counseling services for parents, I also speak to organizations and groups about personal growth, relationships and communication.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

If you're reluctant to try therapy, you are not alone! I'm guessing you might be split right down the middle: You feel like talking to someone about what's bothering you, but at the same time, you're just not sure...

Your decision about therapy is a personal one, and I support you in making the choice that's right for you at this time. You can always change your mind and do it later if you skip it for now.

But maybe you've thought about it many times before. You're tired of hurting so much, so often, and you don't want to put it off anymore.

Many potential therapy clients are deeply concerned about opening an emotional can of worms that they won't be able to control, let alone put back again.

That concern, and/or your ambivalence, is a perfectly good starting point for therapy, if you decide to go for it. In therapy, you are in charge. You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. You decide how much to share, and when. You do therapy; therapy isn't done to you.

I'd like you to accept your ambivalence as not just an annoying obstacle; it's a part of you, speaking to you. And that part needs and deserves to be heard.

Just spending some time exploring and honoring your ambivalence can provide some relief from the tension of painful feelings. You will get to know yourself a little better, and in doing so, move toward accepting yourself for who you really are - ambivalence and all!

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

I am truly sorry that therapy was disappointing or - I hope this wasn't the case - even hurtful to you. When someone has a bad experience with therapy, to me it's like hearing that they choked on chocolate; it's terrible to think that something so positive has been permanently ruined for someone. I really am sorry to hear that your experience was anything but beneficial.

I was a therapy client long before I was a therapist, and I know how important it is to feel accepted, understood, cared for and productive in therapy. Because I was lucky enough to find a wonderful therapist, I'm a strong believer in the power of therapy. With the right combination of therapist and client, therapy is the most powerful tool for change I know. The trick is to find the right therapist for you. Someone you can form a therapeutic alliance with. Someone you can develop trust with.
My therapist helped me feel understood and accepted. I carry these feelings with me now, even many years later. The changes that happened for me in therapy were so important and life-changing that they inspired me to become a therapist myself. I know that therapy works, because it worked for me. I would love it if you could have a similar experience, and if you're at all interested in trying again, I hope you'll give it a whirl. "With great risk comes great reward."

My Blog Posts

• How the Challenges of Aging Can Affect Self-Esteem
• Are You Buying a Gym Membership for the Wrong Reasons?
• Does Therapy for Low Self-Esteem Really Work?
• How to Get Back on Track When You’ve Lost Your Motivation
• How to Deal with the Bully Inside Your Head
• 'I Feel Empty': How to Overcome Feelings of Emptiness
• Break Bones? No, but Name-Calling Can Injure Self-Esteem
• Confidence, Self-Esteem, and the KLT Factor: Know, Like, Trust
• Self-Esteem Means Esteem for Others, Too
• Why Does Mr. Wrong Feel Like Mr. Right?
• Getting to Know (and Esteem) Yourself
• Self-Esteem in Action
• Can You Take a Compliment?
• Self-Esteem and Being Wrong
• Self-Esteem: It Affects Friendships
• Self-Sabotage in Setting Goals
• Setting Goals for Self Esteem
• Self-Esteem for the Holidays: Part II
• Self-Esteem for the Holidays: Part I
• Part II: Constructive Wallowing and Self-Esteem
• Constructive Wallowing and Self-Esteem
• Parenting for Healthy Self-Esteem
• Self-Esteem vs. Self-Criticism
• Signs of Low Self-Esteem, Part IV: Disregard and Punctuality Problems
• Signs of Low Self-Esteem, Part III: Disinterest in Health and Passivity
• Signs of Low Self-Esteem, Part II: Dishonesty and Poor Boundaries
• Signs of Low Self-Esteem, Part I: Five Signs (and What to Do About Them)
• Getting Your Self-Esteem Back After Divorce
• Healthy Self-Esteem Is Not Arrogant, Self-Centered, or Egotistical
• Self-Esteem Affects Personal Goals and Standards
• Self-Esteem and the Myth of Not Needing Others