Psychotherapy
Why Psychotherapy?
We all face challenges and periods in our lives in which we feel dissatisfied, frustrated diminished, or otherwise unhappy.
- Are there patterns in your life that you would like to change?
- Have you or your loved ones been touched by loss, illness or violence?
- Are you trying hard to let go of things that happened ages ago, but with little success?
- Are you wanting to move ahead in your personal or professional development, but feeling stuck?
- Perhaps you want to overcome the feelings that make finding someone to love seem daunting or you're feeling discontentment with your current romantic relationship.
- Or, maybe you're just feeling bad (or angry, or frightened, or trapped).
In the work I do with clients, we address these and many other types of challenges and feelings so you can gain greater understanding of yourself and your circumstances, and develop ways of moving forward with greater assurance.
About My Approach
My approach is psychodynamic and relational. What does that mean? In treatment, you, the client, and I, the therapist, are two real people with real histories and real takes on the world. We are affected by the worlds we inhabit outside of the treatment room as well as in the shared context of the treatment room itself. For those reasons, our work together always is collaborative. At times, I am a quiet advocate or active listener and in other moments, I might more firmly encourage you to consider a broader, more expansive view of yourself and your circumstances, past, present and future. I am always working with you to help you integrate the various aspects of your life, knowing that what affects one part of your life also affects the other parts, and that the most effective treatment takes into account the whole self.
Concrete Problem Solving
I regularly assist clients with concrete problem solving, understanding that without addressing the more immediate challenges you may be facing, exploring more long-standing issues may be impractical. I incorporate mindfulness and other cognitive and behavioral interventions when appropriate. Many of my clients find a more blended approach to psychotherapy, one that incorporates my skills as an executive coach, to be very helpful. I am always available to help my clients with the development of short- and long-term strategies to manage situations and achieve success.
EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. When trauma occurs, it gets locked away in the nervous system and in a memory network in the brain with all of the original pictures, sounds, thoughts, feelings and body sensations in fragments, creating a frozen memory capsule that is not connected to or integrated with other memory network. EMDR works to connect and integrate memory networks and the information contained in them, allowing a free flow of information across all systems so that the original memory, previously trapped and cut off, can be processed. When the memory is fully processed it is re-experienced in a new way. This technique makes it possible to gain the self-knowledge and perspective that will enable you to choose your actions rather than feeling powerless over your reactions.
How Long Will We Work Together?
Research shows that work with clients over the longer term allows for greater depth and understanding of the client's inner world and supports long-lasting, positive outcomes. Primarily, I work with clients over the long term. However, I recognize that at times clients come to me with more emergent issues that require short-term, intensive care. My goal, ultimately, is to be helpful, which means we will determine what is most effective for you and your particular circumstances.
Individuals
My practice always has attracted successful professionals who are focused on career-related challenges and advancement. However, I treat a variety of clients, generally college-aged and up. In addition to working with clients dealing with an assortment of circumstantial challenges such as those related to divorce, academic advancement, child-rearing, chronic illness and bereavement, I treat, among a variety of mental health challenges, individuals managing anxiety and depression. I support clients in the exploration of topics related to culture, nationality, race and spirituality, and I work with clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and/or asexual (LGBTQIA). In addition, I have a subspecialty of working with members of the clergy. Recognizing that individuals access the therapeutic space in different ways, I am open to and welcome clients who wish to incorporate meaning from visual art, dance, literature, music and/or technology in our work together.
Couples
I assist all kinds of couples of all orientations. I work with coupled partners at all stages of their relationships, ranging from dating, pre-commitment and/or pre-marriage counseling, addressing the commonplace types of challenges that affect so many couples, to coping with relationship dissolution. With the belief that no two relationships are the same and that couples find unique ways of configuring their pairings, I welcome the opportunity to understand the intricacies that characterize any particular relationship. I also help business partners having difficulty working together to advance a shared venture.
Couples work is communication-centered, but also focused on the reality that there are three parties in the room that need attention: There is each individual half of the couple (with their respective histories) and the relationship itself, an expression of how these two individuals have come together and the way they perpetuate their connection. I work flexibly with couples depending on my assessment of their style of interaction and relational needs, sometimes seeing each half of the couple individually, then bringing both back together for sessions, or primarily seeing both halves of the couple together.
Sessions
Both individual and couples sessions (whether with both halves of the couple present or with only one half of the couple present) are 50 minutes in duration.
Fees
Please speak to me regarding my most current fee schedule. I do not participate in any insurance panels, which means that I am not an "in-network" provider for any insurance plans. However, I am able to provide invoices suitable for submission to PPO or open access insurance plans that provide benefits for out-of-network providers. I request payment at each session.
Privacy
I adhere to the practices and standards set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") legislation (45 CFR, Parts 160, 162, and 164). For a downloadable copy of my Notice of Privacy Practices, please click here.