Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a dynamic interaction between therapist and client, between science and art, between the safety of what is familiar and the unknown challenges of change.  Therapy is a demanding process that recognizes that people want to live better lives and change is a complex endeavor. Mary McClure Goulding described therapy as a song of life against all odds

Psychotherapy Experience

Anxiety is a common symptom that prompts people to seek therapy.   Some anxiety is a natural part of most everyone’s life.  It can serve to keep us alert and focused, warn us of impending danger or let us know when we are stretching ourselves in novel and challenging ways.  It becomes a problem, however, when it interferes with sleep, relationships, work and general well-being. This is usually the time when people seek therapy to deal with anxiety that has become unmanageable.  I have worked extensively with clients to understand its impact on their lives, learn skills to reduce anxiety, and to create options for dealing with anxiety in new and useful ways. In addition I work with psychiatrists to refer for medication when indicated.

In addition to anxiety, I have experience in work with

  • Personality disorders

  • Depression

  • Drug and alcohol dependence & addictions

  • Sexual identity concerns

  • Food and body image issues

  • Medical conditions

Group Therapy

Many people seek therapy for problems in relationships, whether they are personal, professional or social.  Even when relationships are not the primary reason that people seek therapy, they are often associated with other problems and group therapy can be an excellent form of treatment.  Group provides clients the opportunity to discover that problematic feelings and experiences are shared by others, to explore relationships in a safe environment and to try out new behaviors.

Groups may be ongoing and open-ended or they may be time-limited and admit no new group members once group has begun.   General groups allow clients to focus on whatever issues are present in their lives.  Specific focus groups are organized around a common theme.  These may be particularly useful for people with issues of sexual abuse, coming out , food and body image issues, or dealing with a medical disease.  My experience with a specific focus have included:

  • Food, body image and weight

  • Sexuality

  • Medical conditions

  • Aging

  • Mindfulness in daily life .