Psychotherapy
I work collaboratively to help individuals and couples promote emotional growth and develop effective communication and mutual respect. I encourage my clients to develop balance between their emotional and physical needs and the demands of work and family so that they can live more fully in the moment. Sometimes when people feel undeserving, their emotional bank account becomes overdrawn. Feeling ineffective, powerless and out of control can result in anxiety, depression and physical illness. The increasing stress in today's world can lead to maladaptive coping efforts such as infidelity, or substance abuse. I help my clients improve coping skills and learn stress management techniques. I believe reducing stress and developing rewarding relationships can strengthen and the immune system and help us resist illness.
Couples Counseling
I believe that most marriages are worth saving. I work with couples who wish to repair lost trust, heal painful wounds, or enhance the quality of their relationships. I believe that mutual respect and empathy are cornerstones of satisfying relationship. Effective communication in a safe environment enables couples to reconnect, better understand each other, and resolve conflicts. I strive to help couples remove the roadblocks which hinder personal growth and affirming relationships.
I have been married for 46 years and have been in practice for 43 years. Dealing with issues in my personal life has contributed a different kind of understanding and awareness that has enhanced my work with couples. I believe that it is important for individuals in a partnership to balance their own needs with the demands of work and family. If this does not occur, perhaps because one partner feels undeserving, the emotional bank account becomes overdrawn and the relationship may suffer.
Today's stressful economic climate makes it even more essential that couples develop the ability to enjoy, respect, and support each other. If a crisis or trauma does occur, blame is to be avoided so that trust can be reestablished and healing can take place.
Group Therapy
All of us are raised in group environments. In our families and schools we learn ways of behaving and interacting with others. Sometimes the patterns of behavior that we learn when we are young create problems in our later life. Group therapy offers the opportunity to understand our patterns of thought and behavior as well as those of others. A group offers the opportunity to see ourselves as other people see us. It provides a safe environment in which we can learn to change thoughts, feelings or behaviors which impede us. These changes can improve our functioning in the workplace and can help us attain meaningful and satisfying personal relationships.
Infertility Counseling
Couples seeking assistance with infertility experience a roller coaster of emotions. Anxiety, depression and anger often increase with the duration of infertility treatment. These distressing emotions create stress for the couple and may affect conception. Men and women often deal with infertility differently. Communication is essential so each can understand each other partners’ approach and feelings and be supportive of each other. Counseling can help improve communication, reduce the distress of infertility, and may increase the likelihood of pregnancy.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis has been defined as a state of intense concentration and focused attention. When used by a trained and responsible professional, it allows people to focus their minds more effectively. I have used hypnosis to as a relaxation and stress management tool, for healing and pain management, and to help with weight loss and smoking cessation. I have also used it in psychotherapy to help identify and overcome resistance to desired behavior change.