I use a relational/psychodynamic framework to help you gain insight and self-understanding.

This approach emphasizes the importance of complex feelings, internal conflicts, early experiences, and the various psychological mechanisms that we use to cope with these things. I also pay close attention to the external factors that shape my clients’ experiences. Together we will develop an accurate and comprehensive understanding of your problems, motivations, and patterns of behavior. To that end, I work with my clients actively and collaboratively to help them develop new life skills and remove the obstacles that stand in the way of living a fulfilling life.

Therapy ultimately results in change. It enables people to unlearn the feelings and behaviors that may have been adaptive in the past, but are now harmful and counterproductive. My work draws on my clients’ natural strengths and resilience to help them make the changes they desire. I have found that most people are stronger than they give themselves credit for but have trouble identifying and using their strengths.  

Many of the troublesome behaviors that bring people to therapy soon emerge in the therapy relationship. We will not be merely talking about your problems rather you will have opportunities to actively practice new behaviors and ways of communicating making the transition to incorporating new insights into your life a more seamless experience.

Duration: I provide both brief/time limited and long-term therapy

Many people are understandably concerned about therapy being an endless process. My experience in university mental health settings has made me an expert on the benefits of brief therapy. Brief therapy means different things, depending on your needs, but the idea is that the therapy process is not endless, vague, and mysterious. Quite the contrary. We will set goals, revisit them periodically, and assess the progress that we are making. In my experience, the minimum time to make treatment effective and see change is 16-20 weekly sessions. For some clients this may be enough, while others benefit from more on-going, longer-term work. I will provide the type of treatment that is best suited to your individual needs and presenting problems.