I see the quality of the relationship between client and therapist as the foundation upon which the therapy proceeds. With trust in the ethics, professionalism, and essential kindness of the therapist, real progress can be made. A team is created, joining the skills and knowledge of the therapist with the motivation of the client to solve a problem, heal from the past, feel well again, develop more adaptive ways of coping, move on from losses, or overcome life challenges.
I am passionate about parenting, and have been engaged for many years in parent training. I have taught Systematic Training for Effective Parenting classes in non-profits and in my private practice. It is a wonderful approach that I used in raising my own son and daughter, who are now adults. I have been a parenting consultant for many years, guiding parents in problem-solving, effective discipline, promoting self-esteem, and developing strong and loving parent/child relationships. I assist parents with learning how to co-parent when the parents are living apart, and help family members adjust to changes in family structure brought on by divorce or re-marriage.
I also have much experience treating individual adults with mood disorders and through life transitions or trauma recovery. I do stress management training to relieve anxiety and depression and to increase coping skills. I work often with couples to restore harmony, move past crises, or to minimize the harm of separation or divorce upon the whole family.
Over time I have integrated many techniques in my practice so that I can tailor a treatment using whatever approaches I believe will be most effective for an individual client. Some clients will benefit greatly from cognitive work; others will benefit from exploring long-standing issues to gain insight and find new ways of responding. Journaling is effective for people who enjoy writing. Clients suffering from stress, depression, or anxiety may benefit greatly from learning relaxation techniques they can use on their own whenever needed; meditation and guided imagery are powerful tools for healing. Young children often respond best to play therapy, using their imaginations to express conflicts and work them through without actually realizing the purpose of our play. I work closely with parents whose children are my clients, as they are essential to the process and we will work together to help their children.
We will choose a treatment plan based upon your specific goals and emphasizing your strengths and preferences. You will be treated with the utmost respect. Though therapy is a serious undertaking, I infuse it with warmth and a sense of humor to keep things in perspective and to encourage you. You will find that I am genuinely committed to your well-being.
If you are considering therapy, please contact me to see how we may be able to work together.