COUNSELING SERVICES

I customize therapy based on each person or family’s needs, strengths, goals and values. I believe in focusing on our relationship in therapy so that we are able to understand each other and work together in an individualized manner.
My approach is based on a scientific understanding of human behavior, society and the brain. After 40 years as a mental health provider, I feel confident helping you through any of your life adjustments or concerns.

Services: Services

RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY, PARENTING, MARITAL, PRE-MARITAL, AND FRIENDS

Relationships involve common issues that usually need to be addressed in therapy. At a foundational level are two factors, usually called support/nurturance and boundaries/guidance. All relationships require nurturance to be sustained, trusting and authentic. It is out of nurturance and authenticity then that needed boundaries may be established and guidance may be provided between parties. Both of these factors require communication (thus communication skills) and both of them are impacted by
each person’s history (including similarities and differences across many issues), health and unique circumstances and developmental needs.

Our relationships all happen within a time and place, so larger social, economic and cultural systems need to be considered in any relational counseling. Finally, many relationships cannot be changed. Yet understanding and acceptance may allow us to adapt with healthier boundaries and expectations within relationships and this can decrease relationship stress and improve relationships health.

STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Stress, anxiety and depression tend to go together. Stress is generally a trigger for anxiety and when anxiety persists, one becomes exhausted and depression sets in. My therapy begins with a person centered approach. Person-centered therapy consists of supportive, active listening in order to help someone
feel relief from demoralization and begin to sort out their own changes.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (addressing troubling thoughts and behaviors), Existential Therapy (addressing sources of life meaning and purpose), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (addressing realistic needs for accepting things that one cannot change and finding the things one can begin to change) and Psychodynamic Therapies (addressing the historical or developmental issues that affect us all from our childhood and prior experiences) may also be helpful.
Finally, cultural and social issues, especially related to social justice
concerns, often need to be considered as a source of distress and advocacy methods may be helpful in such cases. Our goal is to find the recipe that is just right for you!

GRIEF, DEATH AND DYING CONCERNS

We all experience losses in life. Loss is built into our human experience as it is in all of nature. However, with us human beings, loss scars our minds and brains and so we relive the loss, sometimes perpetually with waves that come and go. More than anything, the time and space set aside to allow oneself to feel, think and express grief in confidence with a caring therapist is most helpful.
The goal is not to get rid of all grief or distress around loss or death, but to make sense of these experiences and actually find healthy ways for allowing these experiences to be a part of our lives, thereby reducing the intensity or unpredictability of their influence on our lives. Potentially, grief and loss may even become a source of enrichment and strength in our lives.
As hard as it may be emotionally, this is one of my favorite therapies to provide as I get to experience not only the loss, but more-so the love and the hope behind the loss and my life is enriched. Lastly, grief is not only over the death or a loved one, it can also be over the loss of health and abilities, or dreams, including relationships, jobs, life plans, and beliefs or world views.

TRAUMA

Trauma also comes in many forms. Essentially trauma is any experience that leaves one fearful for their life or their value as a person. So, trauma may occur from any experience that seriously diminishes personal integrity and leaves one fragmented: war, domestic violence, rape, terrorism, natural disasters or prolonged stress or abuse that undermines one’s capacity to be self- directing without extreme fear or paranoia and without intruding on or harming others.

Science has revealed the common-sense idea that one must face one’s fears in order to overcome them. Yet, in trauma, what we often call Post-traumatic Stress results in such emotional instability and distortions in mental perceptions as to leave one agitated yet often simultaneously paralyzed by fear, such that we literally stew in our own
internal stew (stress hormones and neuro-transmitter chemicals). There are a number of effective approaches to treat trauma, all with the ultimate goal to reduce the hold that the trauma has and to integrate the trauma into one’s life such that it can be managed.

I mainly use a combination of person-centered therapy (as developing trust and safety helps alleviate some of the fear), Cognitive-behavioral therapy (to enable new coping skills related to the trauma), and Cognitive Processing/Narrative therapies (to uncover the trauma and learn to see it in a new manner that decreases its intrusion into daily life).

WORK AND CAREER

Most adults in the USA spend more time at work than they do with family. Work impacts income, time, self- image, stress, sleep, health, and more. Most adults also make the majority of their friends through work. While relationship stress is the most common reason people seek professional counseling, work relationships are often a big part of this picture. Career indecision, burn out and job loss and many other issues also impact work life health.
The goals in career counseling are to help identify and improve sources of stress, as well as to explore and make decisions about oneself and the world of work to enable steps toward longer term changes. This requires a holistic discussion of values, personality, interests, abilities, qualifications, health, responsibilities (including family), resources, networks, work settings and conditions, and opportunities With a better insight about work and career concerns, small and supported action steps can be planned and job seeking skills may be practiced as a part of therapy. In addition, many people have been burned-out or demoralized by their jobs. In these cases, therapy would also focus on gaining some separation from the impact of work and rebuilding one’s sense of purpose and a realistic, more hopeful sense of self.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOL

Every other issue I am discussing on this page can impact one’s educational or school adjustment and planning. Health, mental health, family stress, stress in school relationships, social skills, social support, learning challenges, self-awareness, work and finances are all a part of educational adjustment. So, much like with career counseling, educational counseling requires a holistic understanding, including possible cultural and social justice issues. Goals
include improving coping skills and reducing sources of stress, achieving a realistic educational plan and addressing challenges to learning. If needed, I can refer you to a practice that does educational testing and we can use the results to help you make plans.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Since there are many types of developmental disabilities, the nature of each person and their surrounding life is the focus. Research and my own experience show that counseling can be helpful (not curing the disability, but helping the person and their family and social systems to function better, thus live a healthier, happier life).
Often, counseling methods need to be adjusted, using more examples, art, hands on activities, and active social skills building methods. Of course, supporting families and often schools or other organizations are an important aspect of such counseling as well.

EXISTENTIAL, SEARCHING FOR MEANING AND SPIRITUALITY

A sense of coherence about life, especially one’s own life, serves as a foundation for morality and action in living a peaceful life to the fullest. Research has shown that those who lack some sense of the greater meaning and of one’s own identity are more likely to suffer from poorer health and lower wellbeing. In addition to one's own history and experiences, it is often useful to consider other knowledge of nature, religion, science, literature and history. Thus, exploring these larger life themes and realms can be helpful in improving mental health. We live in a changing, diverse, often conflictual and unjust world, where any topic or issue may elicit a hundred different responses, often shared through our social media. We also naturally change as we grow up, experience new relationships, knowledge, places and relationships.
Therefore, life can just get confusing as to what we really believe or how we should spend our time.

Existential counseling is aimed at helping to explore these issues in a safe, non-judgmental place and to facilitate some insights, reconciliations, creative conclusions and directions for action that might harmonize and encourage a deeper
appreciation and empowerment of life. This is not religious counseling per se; it is not aimed at a particular outcome or set of beliefs. Rather this is about each person finding their own way with therapeutic support.

HEALTH

Health Psychology, often called Behavioral Medicine is a subspecialty of psychology that addresses how mental and physical health are really one. The nature of these interactions and ways to improve general health or rehabilitation by improving mental health and coping skills. This can therefore include addressing all the other issues I’ve discussed on this page but applying the knowledge to impact physical and general health. I’ve had special training and extensive experience in this area and for many years taught an advanced course at OU concerning the Bio-psycho-social bases of health. I have spent countless hours doing consultations to improve care for nursing home residents as well as hospital bed-side counseling to assist in coping with medical symptoms, diagnoses, treatments and rehabilitation plans. I have helped people manage pain, reduce stress, improve relationships and develop new lifestyle habits all in order to better manage acute or chronic medical conditions.
This area of work often requires collaboration with physicians and other healthcare providers, and I am very comfortable in helping with these needs. Heart diseases, pain conditions, cancers, respiratory, autoimmune and neurological illnesses are some of the areas I have the most experience with. It would be an honor to work with you through any such needs.

SERVICES I DON'T PROVIDE

I do not prescribe medication. I am a Ph.D. Counseling Psychologist and not a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are generally MD’s and are the experts at prescribing psychiatric or mental health medications. Family and general practice physicians also prescribe much of the mental health medications in this country. I cannot prescribe medication, but I have training and experience that can be helpful in making proper referrals to a psychiatrist or your primary care physician, and I can
assist in monitoring medication outcomes or problems with you and your prescribing physician.
While I am fully trained in psychological testing and used to provide such services in my practice, I am no longer offering testing services. I may use limited testing in the office to assist with counseling, but comprehensive testing is a service I can refer for and I am also able to read and utilize psychological testing from elsewhere.
I have a strong background in child counseling, but for the time being I am not seeing younger children in my practice. Children require a level of coordination and availability as well as resources that I am not able to provide at this time. I am seeing ages 16 and up, but I am happy to make a referral for you.