My Practice

There are many ways of getting strong, sometimes talking is the best way.

I serve a wide variety of individuals and couples in my Saratoga practice. Currently, my clients are distributed equally between men, women, couples and young adults.

I view the therapeutic relationship as a partnership in which we explore what it is you want to change or accomplish in your life. I provide you with  a safe, confidential and supportive environment in which to interact. Depending on your need, I can serve as a life coach, counselor, and/or psychotherapist.

My goal is to understand and learn about you in an empathic way. Clients report that they appreciate my down to earth, relaxed nature. I am open to your questions and actively offer feedback, interpretations and suggestions. Periodically, I ask for your assessment of our work together. I make changes and adjustments accordingly.

I draw on a variety of theoretical disciplines, but  generally work with what is best for you and your stated objectives and needs. I have found it useful to invite, through our discussions, ways to enhance intimacy in relationships, both with your self and with others.

Generally our behaviors, interpretations, assumptions, and beliefs have been formed in our early years. For this reason, I will encourage exploration of childhood developmental and relationship issues.  Gaining that understanding and seeing that you have other choices can be helpful and empowering.

As much as you want to change, we may talk about your resistance to change. We are human, after all, and like to maintain control of our familiar patterns even if they no longer work in a helpful or productive way.

If you are open to the idea, I work with your subconscious to help your choices become less automatic and more conscious. Many of my clients call this mindfulness practice. Sometimes dreams and their symbols can be helpful in this regard.

Some of the therapeutic issues that I work with are related to loss, post traumatic stress, anger anxiety, depression, addictions, obsessive compulsive disorders, sexual issues; and feelings of being overwhelmed, fearful or in pain. Benefits of counseling can include healthier and improved relationships with the self and others; and, increased confidence, self esteem and creativity. Also, many clients appreciate having the opportunity to discuss work related issues.

Since we cover intimate areas of your life, I highly respect the confidential nature of our discussions.

Couples often get stuck in patterns of communication that can invite defensive postures. These defensive patterns create obstacles that prevent personal closeness and healthy problem solving. Counseling can help to clear up blame, misunderstandings, and misconceptions. The goal is to learn new ways to communicate and relate. This can help reconstruct the feedback loops that you have created. We talk about life, family, children, and work balance.

Ending our time together is hopefully a mutual decision, based upon the work that has been accomplished in the therapy. It is desirable to spend a session or more to review, or tie up loose ends, assess the work that has been accomplished, and discuss future options.