People Seek Therapy For Many Reasons:
- Relationship issues. Relationships may develop issues that can benefit from professional guidance …problems with communication, sex, child rearing, money management, estrangement with family members.
- Being anxious or depressed: You might be at a time in your life that worrying about little things constantly nags you. Family members or friends tell you to calm down and not be so anxious. You might worry at home and work about what might happen next in your life. You might have an overwhelming feeling of dread. Or you are finding it hard to concentrate no matter what you do to help yourself. Therapy can help identify the sources of these feelings of anxiety or depression.
- Coping with life changes. Life throws you many curveballs such as losing a job, getting divorced, suffering from a chronic illness, or death of a loved one. Just thinking about the fear of losing someone or something, might cause an intense emotional response. Therapy can help you respond and readjust.
I use diverse approaches to help my patients.
My practice draws from my experience with a range of therapeutic approaches and strategies that I combine to serve the unique needs of individuals, couples – married or unmarried, heterosexual or LGBT – and families.
Therapeutic Approaches
- Insight-oriented Therapy builds self awareness and an understanding of how past experiences and family relationships can influence our current behavior and unresolved conflicts.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps patients recognize that thoughts can cause negative feelings and problems in our lives. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and modify these thoughts so we can function in healthier ways.
- Communication Skill Building strengthens, clarifies and improves personal connections. Learning how to listen to others and express ourselves without “fighting” can change the dynamics of relationships from a negative to a more constructive and positive place.
About Me
My Philosophy and Personal Style
Empathy: Change and growth is difficult. People need to know you are with them. I combine this with a supportive challenge to face themselves , others and life’s realities, to believe they can make the changes they want or face the changes that may be difficult.
Action: Many patients have appreciated I am not only a good listener, but I am able to get to the essence of what their issues may be. I believe in giving feedback and asking difficult questions in a compassionate and straightforward way.
Professional Experience
I have been a psychotherapist with a broad range of experience and training for many years. I am an Advanced and Certified Imago therapist and trained with Harville Hendrix who has written the best seller “Getting the Love You Want”. I have also trained with Pat Love who has authored “Hot Monogamy”.
Credentials:
- B.A. Barnard College
- M.S.W. University of Connecticut School of Social Work
- D.S.W. University of Utah School of Social Work
- Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work
- Publications in Professional Journals on marriage, divorce, and child custody
- Certified Imago therapist