My Approach to Helping
Many of us are experiencing a disconnect from ourselves in this time. This may present as a sense of unrest and agitation, that you used to be happy, that you don’t know how to get back to the way you used to be and feel, that you have known for a while that something is wrong and that you should reach out for help. During our initial consultation, we’ll lay out the full banquet of yourself, your life experiences, and the current issues and circumstances you face. We'll identify your most pressing concerns and decide which to work on right away. We’ll look at the emotional patterns in your life and how you show up in the world. I believe my greatest strength as a therapist is being able to see the big picture of your life from the details you provide me. If you can see your story with new eyes--compassionate, uncritical eyes--you can begin the process of changing the way you live your life. Therapy really is a journey that two people go on together. The destination is learning to be your authentic self, and we will practice together in our sessions.
I work with couples and individuals over the age of 20. Call to find out more-I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation. It will be my pleasure to help you!
More Info About My Practice
My background: I graduated from Columbia University, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Psychology. Then received a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work at Columbia. My work experience includes years of inpatient psych training in NYC and Southern California specializing in Dual Diagnosis (mental illness/substance abuse), eating disturbances and Alzheimers/Dementia patients. I interned at the Marine Base El Toro working in the Navy's excellent alcohol/drug counseling center as well as the Family Counseling Center. I was trained by the venerated William Glasser, MD, using his RealityChoice Therapy Method, and with Dr.Sue Johnson and Dr. Alison Lee in Emotion Focused Couples Therapy. Being a therapist is not only a job to me-it is a lifelong passion in learning how to alleviate human suffering and enable people to lead happy and meaningful lives.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I am an Emotion Focused Couples Therapist (EFT) at the Advanced level of training with Supervision. EFT is the most scientifically researched and validated method of couples counseling to date. Its success rate reaches 75% of couples, no matter the degree of distress at the outset. Unlike older methods, EFT establishes a structured, safe, non-blaming atmosphere so clients feel understood and safe enough to open up about problems in the relationship. In the beginning, the goal is to calm things down through exploration of the vicious cycle most get stuck in--same fight, different day! Once things feel less upsetting, each person is guided in accessing wants and needs which have been unspoken or even unknown up to this point. At the completion of EFT, couples find their bond, their mutual love and respect, is resilient against life's daily challenges. Feel free to give me a call if you're curious to know if EFT could help the two of you.
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.