We all experience problems and difficulties in life and sometimes it can be more than we can handle alone.  For some, seeking professional help is the first step towards improved emotional and mental health.  If you're uncertain or unfamiliar with therapy, please contact me so I can help with some of your questions and concerns.

Or, if you've made the decision to pursue therapy, allow me to help you:

• work through your desire for change, understanding, guidance and/or support,
• alleviate your emotional and psychological distress and anxiety around family, relationships, adjustments, sexual orientation, identity,
• get you through your life transition, school, or career change,
• find ways to change behaviors that contribute to a problem,
• or find constructive ways to deal with a situation that is beyond your personal control.

As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor, I offer Individual, Group, some Couples, and when needed, Family Counseling. I'm here to help adults and young adults who may be struggling with depression and anxiety; working through issues related to alcohol and drug addiction; adjusting to changes in school, work, and relationships; struggling with personal identity, sexual orientation and gender identity. I work with gay and straight couples who need help with communication, co-dependency issues, and transitions. I work with parents and families who have a loved one that has "come out" as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. I also enjoy working with anyone who wants to learn more about themselves and how they see the world, others and self; and anyone who wants to learn better ways to relax and enjoy life.

It is important that you know how we will work together and I believe our work will be most helpful to you when you have a clear idea of what we are trying to do. I hope the following information answers some questions you might have about my practice. Please take your time to read it thoroughly. Write down any questions you think of, and we will discuss them.

Below, you will find information about what therapy is, what the risks and benefits of therapy are, what to expect from our relationship (the goals of therapy, how long therapy might take, and other areas of our relationship). After you have read through the information, we can discuss how these issues apply to your own situation.

There is also information about Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Clinical Hypnosis, my Appointments & Fees and Notice of Privacy Practices.

Because you will be putting a good deal of time and energy into therapy, you should choose a therapist carefully.  I strongly believe you should feel comfortable with the therapist you choose, and hopeful about the therapy process.  When you feel this way, therapy is more likely to be very helpful to you. Once I've gathered enough information, I will share with you how I see your situation and we can discuss how we should proceed.  I view therapy as a partnership between us.  You define the problem areas to be worked on and we work together to make the changes you want to make.  Therapy is not like visiting a medical doctor.  It requires your very active involvement.  It requires your best efforts to change thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

I expect us to plan our work together.  In our treatment plan we will list the areas to work on, our goals, the methods we will use, the time commitments we will make, and some other things.  I expect us to agree on a plan that we will both work hard to follow.  From time to time, we will look at our progress and goals.  If we think we need to, we can then make adjustments to our treatment plan, its goals, and its methods.

An important part of your therapy will be practicing new skills that you will learn in our sessions.  I will ask you to practice outside our meetings, and at times we will work together to set up homework assignments for you.  I might ask you to try different exercises, to keep records, and perhaps to do other tasks to deepen your learning.  You will probably have to work on relationships in your life and make long-term efforts to get the best results.  These are important parts of personal change.  Change will sometimes be easy and quick, but more often it will be slow and frustrating, and you will need to keep trying.  There are no instant, painless cures and no "magic pills."  However, you can learn new ways of looking at your problems that will be very helpful for changing your feelings and reactions.

As with any powerful treatment, there are some risks as well as many benefits with therapy.  You should think about both the benefits and risks when making any treatment decisions.

For example, in therapy, there is a risk that clients will have, for a time, some uncomfortable levels of sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness, helplessness, or other negative feelings.  Clients may recall unpleasant memories.  These feelings or memories may bother a client at work or in school. Some people in your community may mistakenly view anyone in therapy as weak, or perhaps as seriously disturbed or even dangerous.  Also, clients in therapy may have problems with people important to them.  Family secrets may be told.  Therapy may disrupt a marital or long-term relationship and sometimes may even lead to a separation.  Sometimes, too, a client's problems may temporarily worsen after the beginning of treatment.  Most of these risks are to be expected when people are making any important changes in their lives.  Finally, even with our best efforts, there is a risk that therapy may not work out well for you. While you consider these risks, you should also know that the benefits of therapy have been shown by scientists in hundreds of well-designed research studies. People who are depressed may find their mood lifting.  Others may no longer feel afraid, angry, or anxious.  In therapy, people have a chance to talk things out fully until their feelings are relieved or the problems are solved.  Clients' relationships and coping skills may improve greatly.  They may get more satisfaction out of social and family relationships.  Their personal goals and values may become clearer.  They may grow in many directions—as persons, in their close relationships, in their identity, in their work or schooling, and in their ability to enjoy their lives.  I do not take on clients I do not think I can help.  Therefore, I will enter our relationship with optimism about our progress.

I will use my best knowledge and skills to help you.  This includes following the rules and standards of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA).   In your best interests, the APA and ACA puts limits on the relationship between a therapist and a client, and I will abide by these.  These limits are not personal responses to you. First, I am licensed and trained to practice counseling/psychotherapy—not law, medicine, or any other profession.  I am not able to give you good advice from these other professional viewpoints. Second, state laws and the rules of the APA and ACA require me to keep what you tell me confidential (that is, private).  You can trust me not to tell anyone else what you tell me, except in certain limited situations.  I explain what those are in my "Confidentiality Statement" below.  Here I want to explain that I try not to reveal who my clients are.  This is part of my efforts to maintain your privacy.  For example,

• If we meet on the street or socially, I may not say hello or initiate a conversation with you.  My behavior will not be a personal reaction to you, but a way to maintain the confidentiality of our relationship.
• As your therapist, I will not give you gifts and I may not receive any of your gifts eagerly.
• Even if you invite me, I may not attend your family gatherings, such as parties or weddings.

Third, in your best interest and following the APA and ACA's standards, I can only be your therapist.  I cannot have any other role in your life. 

• I can never have sexual or romantic relationships with any client during, or after, the course of therapy. 
• I cannot have a business relationship with any of my clients, other than the counseling relationship.
• I cannot, now or ever, be a close friend or socialize with any of my clients. 
• I cannot be a counselor to someone who is already a friend.