My Approach to Helping
I help people get to the root of dynamics within themselves that cause their struggles. My approach is engaging and expansive. With over 28 years of experience with many types of people from different cultures and backgrounds, I see people as human with complex emotions and complicated lives. Most all of us are trying to live a better life with less struggle, less stress and fear. We all want to be loved and understood, but sometimes we get in our own way.
We all create narratives of who we are - most of which are developed very early in life and get embellished along the way to adulthood. My work is to help people develop ways of reflecting on what has been, what is, and what might be in order to allow more choices in life than seem obvious or possible. We can get stuck at various times in our lives, tolerating an existence that may not reflect all that we initially wanted out of life, how we imagined our talents and skills would be put to use. We sometimes land in relationships that become painfully frustrating or boring because we do not understand why we pick the partners that we do, why we feel misunderstood or unloved. It takes courage to look at oneself instead of blaming circumstances and people around you. If life problems were easy to handle alone we would all be doing that. My work is based in the idea that feeling understood, being listened to carefully in a focused way and hearing other ways to think about yourself are actually helpful and curative.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
Internet Addiction
Problematic sexual behaviors (i.e. excessive porn use, sexual website addictions, turning to prostitutes, impulsive and compulsive addictive sexual behaviors)
Depression
Anxiety and Stress
Romantic relationships and intimacy
Work-related problems (i.e. tensions with Superiors and Co-workers)
Mid-life transitions
Grieving and Loss
Problems relating to Family: Parents, Siblings and Children
Parenting stressors
Relocation stress (moving or relocating from another city, country or continent)
High-pressure careers in Technology, Finance, Law, Business, Medicine
Executive authority (handling large responsibilities and managing others)
Health related concerns
Chronic illness (such as cancer and HIV)
Asian Americans
GayLesbianBisexual issues
Creative artists
My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy
Increased stress, depression, insecurities about being emotionally and sexually intimate, career pressures, illness, grief and loss of loved ones, aging, racial prejudice and coming to terms with the past are common problems that can be talked about in the context of psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.
Many live silently and secretly with their problems. Talking to family and close friends has not helped them solve inner difficulties. Many have shame about seeking help. They feel being in therapy is a weakness or carries a stigma of being mentally ill. Some people are so private they do not share their struggles even with the closest friends or family. This can be lonely and depressing, contributing to a sense that those around them really do not see them or know how much they struggle. Sometimes we can identify painful repetitive patterns but cannot get to the heart of our reactions and moods.
At times, we all have blind spots, confusion. When these become overwhelming, repetitive or destructive doing psychotherapy can be enormously relieving. It can mean the difference between feeling stuck and moving forward with more clarity; a sense of hope without feeling shamed for having universal human struggles. The process of putting your private struggles into words may seem daunting, yet you may not have experienced the unique impact of putting things into language, to be listened to. Therapy can be a safe place to be completely honest and understood.
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.