Services Provided

Individual Therapy

I have been trained in most of the mainstream therapeutic orientations, as well as a few of the lesser known ones. My practice integrates the best parts of both traditional and non-traditional therapies into a unique and adaptive style that I have found to be effective with many hundreds of clients.

Traditional talk therapy may be augmented and deepened with art based therapies, sand tray, dreamwork, guided visualization, and yoga. Each client is different, therefore each treatment approach is a collaborative process that develops between therapist and client.

Couples Therapy

Sometimes it is the relationship that is suffering. When couples seek help to resolve problems between them, their relationship becomes my client. I don't take sides. As with individuals, my goal is to help couples see to the roots of their problem, and then support them in their decision to commit further toward resolution. Sometimes that resolution is to carefully and intentionally bring their relationship to a close. But most of the time, in my experience, couples are brought closer together through the counseling process, and can deepen their relationship in ways they never imagined were possible.

Family Therapy

Family can bring out the best and the worst in us. Sometimes the focus can be on a particular family member; other times it seems like everyone is unraveling at the same time. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I am skilled in discovering the underlying patterns that create dysfunction in families. Often times, the "one with the problem" is the lightning rod for many sources of suffering throughout the family system. Other times we uncover multi-generational patterns that are being played out yet again. Effective family therapy gets to the heart of the issues and can encourage members to bring out the best in themselves and one another.

Therapy with Children

Childhood is not necessarily the happiest of times. Children are vulnerable to the trials and tribulations suffered by the adults who care for them. Much of the time, the strong relationship between children and their caregivers shelters them from pain and stress, and they develop capacities to weather their own storms in the future. However, sometimes children develop symptoms that interfere with their ability to function normally in their home or at school. They may become withdrawn, argumentative, or angry. They may regress to an earlier phase of development. Sometimes the changes are subtle, other times dramatic.

It takes courage to seek professional help for one's child. Parents cope with a range of feelings such as embarrassment, fear, or even anger. They may try to wait out the symptoms, to see if they get better on their own. Sometimes they do! Children have a natural ability to heal themselves through pretend play, art-making, and physical activity. However, there are times that they need the assistance of a therapist who is trained and experienced in treating disorders of childhood. By working with their innate healing capacities, my counseling with children is much briefer than it would be if they waited until adulthood. Dysfunctional patterns have less time to take hold when they are addressed in childhood. I help resolve children's problem behaviors when they are still young, giving them the best chance to grow into healthy adults. Seeking therapy for one's child validates their experience and helps strengthen the bonds of family.

As a parent, I know how hard it can be to cope with the challenges of raising a family. My professional experience and training with children spans over 25 years, and I have worked successfully with pre-schoolers up through adolescents. Please feel free to contact me to see if counseling may be right for your child.