individual, relationship, adolescent, child, family, sex, divorce, work, and stress reduction therapist. Consequently, I've developed a few solid biases over the years.
Click here for more about those.
Now I’m working virtually, too, as an “International therapist.” Call me (see Contact page) for more information about Skype and Google webcam options.
Long story short:
Working with all kinds of people, and treating as many problems in as many different ways, I think the evaluation is everything in my practice. Even if you have limited resources for therapy (or terrible insurance) if you’re seeking therapy, that's your first priority. Get a good consultation/evaluation.
Still, there really is nothing more satisfying than sinking into that sofa and talking your head off for months at a time. Even if you think it’s hard to do that, you might find it really isn’t as hard as you thought it would be.
On the other hand, brief therapy can help and is cost effective. You'll find me, too, meaning I am pschoeducational and interactive, but basically quiet until you've run out of words.
Significant others are welcome.
I'm comfortable with a wide variety of treatment modalities, including have specialties CBT, ACT, EMDR (a nice little hypnotic thing), grief work, therapy and relaxation techniques for anxiety and post traumatic stress, including nagging, obsessive thoughts and memories from childhood.
If a child is an identified patient then it’s likely I’ll want to see parents in the initial visit— unless the child or adolescent has asked to be in treatment alone. Sibling therapy can be very powerful, too, especially with blended families, and I’ll often recommend we do that, as well.
What are the boundaries here?
I treat just about every disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association) or the disorder of the day heard on Oprah. But I might have to refer you to someone else if it feels out of my range or cuts to close to home. That doesn’t happen very often.
The therapy itself always depends upon what you want and need.
In relationship therapies there is individual work as well. I like to do all of it, prefer that you discontinue your individual work with a therapist or perhaps see both of us for a short while. This way I can assess what’s going on inside of both heads, yours and your significant other’s, to do the relationship therapy. Mine isn’t a “take sides” role, although you’ll find support here, no question. But you’re both wonderful, not that we all couldn't use a tweak. Why else would you have chosen one another?