My Approach to Helping
My passion is about helping people rediscover the person they were meant to be, to get back on the path to reaching their goals and living out their heart's desire. I often ask my clients, what would you do with your time if you had $20 million? Most people don\'t come to therapy with this in mind, but I find that it helps to have a positive vision for how you could enjoy life, once you have healed from what you came to therapy for. Calling a therapist can be a difficult step, but one that you won't regret if you find a person that you can relate to. I will give you the chance to ask questions or just chat a little on the phone if you need that to get a sense of me. Then, if you take the next step of coming for a first session, we can get to know each other further. I create a safe and comforting space for healing. I work with you to build a collaborative relationship, finding the best pathway to your well-being. I offer genuine caring, empathy, and non-judgment. Clients tell me I'm warm, easy to talk to, and down to earth.
Practicing since 1992, I call upon a variety of treatment approaches, depending on what you need and prefer. In general, I have a psychodynamic, relational approach combined with CBT and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). I have done advanced training in EMDR for 12 years and used this technique to help people quickly heal from trauma and other upsetting experiences. I have also had great results helping people heal from addictions to all. My work is enhanced by my 25 years of mindfulness meditation.
I provide therapy for depression and anxiety, social anxiety, panic, abuse, trauma, PTSD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), all kinds of addictions and substance abuse, grief and loss issues. I do family therapy and couples counseling. I help couples with many different problems, at every stage of the relationship, from early and premarital counseling, to healthy break ups and co-parenting mediation. We work on communication, intimacy enhancement, sexual problems, rebuilding trust after affairs, swinging, or polyamory, extended family conflicts and step parenting issues. My clients report leaving therapy feeling a renewed sense of hope about their relationships and they have tools to continue improving their lives.
I also do Sandtray Worldplay and other play therapy with children. And did I mention, I love angry teenagers!