I like getting to know my clients, am a seasoned clinician yet still learning, particularly about the ways in which my sound training, abundant experience, and psychological insights can best serve and help each individual whom I see.

My approach

I am psychodynamically trained and oriented, which is to say that the relationship with patients is important - similar to all other relationships, where trust is built and the individual naturally, sometimes gradually, perhaps even quickly feels safe and capable of being vulnerable at ease and opening up about their problems. I take an interest in success as well. Feedback and reactions during the therapy, are important to the process; in that sense, I learn to be more helpful with the issues we bring into the conversation. My approach integrates ideas and work that are cognitive, developmental, humanistic, and person-centered, among other clinical veins that have long-time proven success. I am empathic and like my patients.

My focus

I like working with adults of all ages and backgrounds who seek to tackle their problems head-on, who have some curiosity about themselves, and who respond to the idea that problems themselves do not need to be a source of self-blame, shame or guilt and who want to work in this effort to overcome them. I also like working with individuals who take some interest in the way their problems have roots and can benefit from insights related to their family of origin experiences.

My communication style

I am an attentive listener, have a sense of humor, and compassion based on my own experiences and personal understanding about many life challenges, and am empathic and attentive to emotions and listening to individual’s unique experiences. I like to engage and not just sit back and listen - I like to introduce my thoughts and insights and welcome your responses and active participation in this interpersonal process.

My journey to therapy

I completed a Master of Arts Degree in clinical psychology in the late 1980s, doing research at that time on important psychological aspects of one’s family of origin experiences and substance abuse. I learned a lot about patients working for many years while in graduate school in various quality psychiatric hospitals and community mental health settings. I finished my Doctorate in clinical psychology in 1998 (having worked during that process), and enjoyed working with various “populations,” including teenagers, adults, those with chronic mental illnesses, and seniors. I also studied with a very progressive psychoanalytically based research and training institute, from which I learned how to be a more effective therapist - based on good research. I have recently branched out into private practice work and enjoy it.

My goals for you

Therapeutic goals are based upon each individual’s experiences, personality, life and family of origin experiences, and the nature and depth of problems. I seek to help you gain some insight and feel inspired by learning about yourself, gaining psychological insights that are useful and have the potential to help you feel less guilty, self-blaming, more effective in your relationships, and bold in dealing with your particular problems or life ambitions.

My first session with you

You can expect me to be friendly, to take an interest in you as a person, sometimes to ask questions, at others to listen (and notice that I am thinking about your l life as an individual (not a diagnosis). You will feel that I take you seriously and genuinely want to be of help.