Scope of Practice

I've worked in mental health for 26 years and helped hundreds of adults develop satisfying inner, relationship and work lives for themselves. The people I've worked with have had a wide variety of strengths and issues. I like working with people of varying backgrounds, adult ages, sexual orientations, religions and both women and men.

Range of Focus

• ACoA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) Issues
• Abortion/Pregnancy Issues
• Aging
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks
• Agoraphobia
• Bereavement/Grief
• Bi-polar Disorder
• Body Image
• Borderline Personality/Traits
• Codependency Issues
• Coming Out Issues
• Communication Skills
• Dual Disorders, including Alcohol or other Substance Abuse with Emotional Issues or Disorders
• Depression
• Dissociative / Multiple Personality Disorders
• Divorce
• Family of Origin Issues
• Feminist Issues
• Goal Setting
• Internal Homophobia
• Life Coaching
• Loss
• Mood Disorders
• Midlife Concerns
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Over-Eating
• Personality Disorders
• Personal Relationships
• Physical Abuse
• Pregnancy Emotions
• Personal Relationships
• Phobias
• Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
• Pregnancy Grief & Loss (including miscarriage, infertility, abortion)
• Relationship Issues
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Self Identity
• Separation/Divorce
• Sexual Orientation Issues
• Social Coaching
• Stress & Coping
• Schizophrenia
• Self Esteem Issues
• Sense of Self
• Sexual Abuse
• Social Anxiety
• Social Friendship Skills
• Stress Issues
• Teens with depression and/or anxiety
• Uni-polar Disorder
• Workplace Issues
• Work / Life Balance
• Other Issues and Concerns

Values and Philosophy

People who see me gain a stronger sense of meaning in their lives, their real needs and their enduring strengths. They often learn new skills for meeting their needs and addressing issues, and develop a firmer sense of self-confidence. This is partly because counseling or therapy with me is not passive. No counselor or therapist has any magic, but I can help you gain the tools to meet your goals if you participate in the process. 

Therapy (counseling) can help, or even be a life saver. I understand how hard it is to open up in therapy, or counseling, and respect every person who does it. It takes courage and caring for oneself, as well as a commitment to participation.

Therapeutic Technique and Methodology

I approach counseling and therapy from humanistic, strengths and holistic models, and use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including ERP (exposure response prevention) and desensitization, when suited to the individual's specific issues. Other methods I may use in therapy include psycho-education, Gestalt dream work, rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), journaling, visualization and relaxation. I'm solution focused, but always encourage going through, rather than around, emotions. I believe emotions are valid and must be experienced, but that we needn't become stuck in them. After all, emotions arise from our thoughts or behaviors -- sometimes called mindfulness -- and those can be changed by paying close attention to them and changing the ones that aren't helpful or realistic. There's a great deal of research supporting this approach, called CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy. 

Humanistic psychology: I believe each individual has an inherent capacity and urge for personal development. We can change, find increased meaning in life, learn to overcome issues, develop new skills, gain knowledge or increase our flexibility to become the people we want to be.

Strengths-orientation: Enduring strengths are the assets we each own from early ages. When we become aware of what our own enduring personal strengths are, we can foster the growth of these to be our best and enjoy our lives to the fullest.