My therapeutic style is heavily influenced by systemic theories along with more traditional modes of intervention such as person centered, existential, and psychodynamic. This carefully constructed eclectic structure allows me to view clients broadly and to identify precisely primary areas of concern. The therapeutic process that flows from this conceptualization allows me to design effective treatment strategies.

On the bottom of my business card is the following: "Creating a safe space for growth." This statement is not just catch phrase but exemplifies how I practice as a therapist. I try to create the sense of safety by talking with you and not at you, collaborating with you to find solutions to the problems that concern you, respecting the unique qualities that make up your personality, recognizing that you have a story to tell and listening carefully to the important elements of the narrative, and being honest with you in terms of what I feel, so ambiguity in our relationship is kept at a minimum Clients sometimes ask what theory I use in my practice.

To answer that question, I believe that we are all part of the "system" in which we live, so I try to help you identify elements in that system that could be creating problems. We are also a system unto ourselves, so sometimes the work will focus on what is going on internally, what you are feeling, experiences you have had, and so forth. Another FAQ involves dealing with the past. I do believe that what has happened to us previously significantly affects what we do and how we feel today. However, I am not a therapist who asks you to blame others but rather to determine if there is a connection between what has happened in past relationships and the present. Finally, I do not believe that resolution of concerns requires a rehashing of every negative event in your life. I do think it is important to gain enough awareness about your past in order to determine what you learned at that time and what you may need to unlearn now.

It only seems fair that I share a bit about myself with you. I have been a practicing therapist most of my adult and life, so I have a good sense of who I am as a therapist and as a person. I have had the benefit of two daughters who have taught me to be humble [I can't get away with anything]. The latter statement reveals a key element of my personality; I have a rather offbeat sense of humor. Humor helps me to keep my own life in perspective and at times can assist you, as clients, to move away from sad elements in your own life andor to discover a different perspective on them. I enjoy what I do and feel privileged to be invited into the personal lives of those I assist.