I'm a social worker with over 45 years of experience with children, adolescents, families, couples and adults. I find that people get the best results when we look at their lives as a whole -- physical, emotional, intellectual, what many people call spiritual (your most deeply held beliefs and values), and socially, as a member of your community. I have training and experience in a variety of treatments which are evidence-based. I can also do dreamwork and art therapy if this is something that is appealing to you, but I have to say up front that these, while very well known, do not have the same degree of corroboration as evidence-based practices. I have worked since the late 70s with survivors of trauma: physical abuse, neglect, sexual assault, and combat trauma. It has been one of the great honors of my life to have received the trust of so many who have endured trauma, and to have been a part of their healing.
In the first session, I'll try to get a well-rounded view of who you are and what you want from therapy.
My greatest strength is an ability to notice and resolve patterns of thought, emotions and behaviors which may not be apparent, as these can lead to repeated stress in a client's life. I see the best in people, in an atmosphere of unconditional positive regard. I've had a broad range of experience in my time as a clinical social worker -- outpatient, inpatient, adults, adolescents, young kids, rural, urban, etc. -- and make that breadth of practice available to all my clients.
I was in the first group of therapists to be trained in TF-CBT in North Carolina nearly 20 years ago. I've seen remarkable results in less time than it took before TF-CBT came along.
Structural family therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the interactions between family members. Looking at the family as a system, structural family therapists work to improve communication between members of the family and encourage adjustments in the rules that govern how the family functions within its structure.
I am certified in DBT. This is an excellent form of treatment for people who have difficulty with emotional regulation and want to be able to tolerate life's inevitable distress better than they have.
I trained in clinical hypnosis in the 1990s and continue to learn how to use this valuable treatment. I'm a National Board Certified Diplomate of Clinical Hypnotherapy (NBCDCH.) Hypnotherapy is helpful for many issues including depression, anxiety, unwanted repetitive behaviors and thoughts, and so on.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is where it all started. Think Sigmund Freud and Karl Jung. We look at how unconscious thoughts and feelings affect our daily experience through means such as dream interpretation. This is especially useful in cases of early childhood trauma where there may not be memory of the events.