LP, 25 years of experience
Hello! I have been continuously licensed as a Clinical Psychologist since 1999. I grew up poor in inner city Cleveland. I was the 1st in my family to complete a college degree of any kind. I was a truck driver before I became a psychologist. I have a neuromuscular disability which effects my lower arms and hands and lower legs and feet. I use a wheelchair for long distances but I can walk a little. I graduated with a BA in psychology from Cleveland State University in 1992. I graduated with my doctorate in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago in 1998.
In the initial meeting, I will explain how this working relationship is private and I will explain the 4 legal limits of confidentiality. I will then ask you to explain what brings you to therapy at this time and get your input on how I can help you. If you need something more structured, I can ask you specific questions, but I would rather have you describe your problem in your own way. I will be there with you to make sure I am understanding what you are saying.
My greatest strength is my 24 years of experience. Another strength I have is my choice to work in a wide array of settings with clients from very diverse backgrounds. Just as a sample: I have worked with mothers and grandmothers struggling to keep their children safe in one of the deadliest neighborhoods in Chicago, I helped LGBTQ+ elders with adjusting and coping to life within a long-term care setting and I have experience assisting corporate executives with relationship problems, among many other professional experiences.
I have had an array of professional experiences working with a very diverse clientele. I provided assessment and therapy for individuals, couples and families and I have also conducted several different types of corporate psychological consultations. I worked in medical hospitals with physically compromised individuals and in state hospitals with severely chronically mentally ill patients. I also worked in university counseling centers, many different types of non-profit clinics, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living homes and private practices. I currently want to focus on working with adults who have difficulties with depression, anxiety, traumas, work, family or primary relationships.
I am grounded in Person Centered Therapy. This means I embody the core principles of empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness. I strive to understand my clients as deeply as I can and communicate this understanding to them. I am real and genuinely myself in this working relationship.
I am trained in many types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies and I offer these techniques to my clients when requested or when it seems indicated.