I provide counseling for adults, children, adolescents, and relationship therapy for couples and families. Many people seek psychotherapy and each person comes for their own reasons. It is normal to seek support in facing a challenging life situation, and counseling once you recognize something more profound is happening. Especially when you need help understanding and managing the issue.
I enjoy being fully involved with each therapy session and working with each of my clients in a personalized manner, based on the individual needs. My goal is to help you set your goals and assist you in attaining the personal growth you are searching for.
Treatment specialization includes:
Adult Therapy:
Individuals often use coping skills and defense mechanisms to face troubling issues in their lives. These solutions may work for awhile. Eventually many people become overwhelmed with feelings of depression, anxiety, grief or struggles with addiction. The decision to seek therapy is one made from strength and from wanting to get your house in order. Individuals come to therapy to receive help that can relieve the symptomatic pain and suffering that accompany many psychological struggles.
Have you noticed:
Adolescent Therapy:
During adolescence teens and their parents are facing difficult transitions together. As adolescents evolve they search for their own identity. This identity becomes the way they will eventually create a place in their family and socially in the outside world. During this transition they are no longer children, yet not quite adults. These changes put a strain on the family system. The family is challenged as it shifts to accommodate the changing needs of its members.
At this stage common themes in therapy involve parental concerns about drug and alcohol use, school and social problems, and conflicts at home. Therapy can help create new paths to communication and help in setting clear boundaries in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Child Therapy:
Without question you want to best for your child. Children also want to do well. However, your child may be lacking the skills to do so. Growing up can be a challenge. Parenting a child can also be a challenge. Your job is to raise a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted adult. Yet there are struggles along the way. Parents talk with other parents, family members and friends, and may turn to self-help books. Often these solutions help bring temporary relief. Then eventually the problems don't go away. They stick around and may get worse. Nothing you hear or say seems to make a difference.
Your child is likely communicating their lack of coping skills. This leads to behavioral problems, parental frustration, and tension in your relationship and home.
These are a few ways your child or teen is communicating their need for help:
While working with me in therapy, your child and teen will learn:
Couples Therapy:
Relationship Therapy is conducted with couples in a marital or "significant other" relationship. Its purpose is to assist the couple to work together as partners to communicate, love and solve the problems of daily life. The establishment of realistic, adult expectations is usually an important goal. Similar to family therapy, couples work focuses on the relationship between two people without blaming either person for the problems. Some couples attend pre-marital counseling before getting married. This allows them to anticipate problems in their relationship. In many cases couples therapy focuses on the communication between the partners. There is often work on how to "really listen" to what the other partner is saying, and work on using "I statements" when confronting the partner about a problem. Staying focused on how you feel when your partner does a certain thing (rather than focusing on the thing that they do) helps your partner listen without becoming defensive.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Acute Stress Disorder
- ADHD
- Couples Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Parenting Issues
- Life Transitions
- Job Stress/Career Transitions
- Anger Management
- Grief and Loss
- Divorce and Custody
- Addiction/Substance Abuse
- Mindfulness
- Guided Imagery
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Adult Therapy:
Individuals often use coping skills and defense mechanisms to face troubling issues in their lives. These solutions may work for awhile. Eventually many people become overwhelmed with feelings of depression, anxiety, grief or struggles with addiction. The decision to seek therapy is one made from strength and from wanting to get your house in order. Individuals come to therapy to receive help that can relieve the symptomatic pain and suffering that accompany many psychological struggles.
Have you noticed:
- You're struggling to get out of bed in the morning?
- It feels like everyone else is happier than you?
- You just don't have the energy levels or motivation you used to have?
- You feel worried or stressed much of the time?
- It feels like work to maintain relationship or carry out your day to day activities?
- You don't feel as interested in activities you used to enjoy?
- Your relationships are up and down a lot?
- You feel alone or misunderstood?
- You aren't certain how to handle your child's struggles?
- You wonder how you ended up where you are and how to change those patterns?
- You feel stuck and similar patterns repeat themselves - in your relationships, at your work place, or at home?
- You feel burnt out and need a long vacation away from your struggles?
- You feel like your anger will get you in trouble someday?
Adolescent Therapy:
During adolescence teens and their parents are facing difficult transitions together. As adolescents evolve they search for their own identity. This identity becomes the way they will eventually create a place in their family and socially in the outside world. During this transition they are no longer children, yet not quite adults. These changes put a strain on the family system. The family is challenged as it shifts to accommodate the changing needs of its members.
At this stage common themes in therapy involve parental concerns about drug and alcohol use, school and social problems, and conflicts at home. Therapy can help create new paths to communication and help in setting clear boundaries in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Child Therapy:
Without question you want to best for your child. Children also want to do well. However, your child may be lacking the skills to do so. Growing up can be a challenge. Parenting a child can also be a challenge. Your job is to raise a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted adult. Yet there are struggles along the way. Parents talk with other parents, family members and friends, and may turn to self-help books. Often these solutions help bring temporary relief. Then eventually the problems don't go away. They stick around and may get worse. Nothing you hear or say seems to make a difference.
Your child is likely communicating their lack of coping skills. This leads to behavioral problems, parental frustration, and tension in your relationship and home.
These are a few ways your child or teen is communicating their need for help:
- Isolating in his or her room
- Having trouble with friendships (ups and downs or no friends)
- Acting out aggressively (hit, kick, bite, destroy items, etc.)
- Becoming more irritable or defiant
- Having meltdowns that may feel unpredictable to adults
- Not eating or overeating
- Making negative comments like “I wish I were dead” or “I hate myself”
- Not wanting to go to school
- Being secretive or lying to you (story telling)
- Stealing
- Procrastination or power struggles over school work
- Dropping grades
- Difficulty concentrating on &/or completing tasks
- Worrying or obsessing often
- Crying more often and for longer periods of time
- Abusing drugs or alcohol
- Engaging in self-injurious behaviors (cutting or scratching – hitting head – etc.)
- Doing “too well” (yes – this can be a sign of a larger problem: overachieving, overly busy, over-involved, etc.)
While working with me in therapy, your child and teen will learn:
- How to identify and express their feelings with words
- How to manage their frustration and angry feelings
- How to transition through their day successfully
- How to problem solve with adults and peers: identify their concerns and negotiate a solution to identified problems (Parents will learn how to facilitate this process)
- How to get organized and anticipate what to expect
- How to identify, build and keep positive friendships
- How to make “good” decisions
- Build a “tool box” of coping skills
- How to manage anxiety and worry
- How to stay focused and complete one task at a time
- How to think about consequences before acting
- How to tell the truth and be accountable
- How to identify and change unhelpful thinking or behavior
- How to use their words and voice to get needs met
- How to heal from their “traumatic situation” and move towards normal developmental play
Couples Therapy:
Relationship Therapy is conducted with couples in a marital or "significant other" relationship. Its purpose is to assist the couple to work together as partners to communicate, love and solve the problems of daily life. The establishment of realistic, adult expectations is usually an important goal. Similar to family therapy, couples work focuses on the relationship between two people without blaming either person for the problems. Some couples attend pre-marital counseling before getting married. This allows them to anticipate problems in their relationship. In many cases couples therapy focuses on the communication between the partners. There is often work on how to "really listen" to what the other partner is saying, and work on using "I statements" when confronting the partner about a problem. Staying focused on how you feel when your partner does a certain thing (rather than focusing on the thing that they do) helps your partner listen without becoming defensive.