(he/him)
Hello: I was born and raised in Florida, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist. I have provided mental health assessment, treatment, and consultation services as a clinical psychologist for 22 years so far. Before that, I practiced with a Master's degree for 10 years. So, I have enjoyed working with people to help them improve their mental health and overall functioning for more than 30 years. I am 58 years old, and as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community myself, I especially enjoy working with others on the queer spectrum. As far as my education, I received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, a Master's degree in Community Counseling from Georgia State University, a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology. Life can be hard, very hard sometimes. It is fortunate if you have someone who is a well-trained professional available to help navigate, make sense of, and overcome those seemingly overwhelming situations life throws at us. Gaining a sense of mastery and peace of mind are two common goals we all share, and psychotherapy is an effective way to achieve them. Those more than 30 years of professional training and experience are in addition to the inherent enhancement of insight that comes through experiencing 58 years of living on this planet. Engaging in psychotherapy is all about creating change....change for the better. Addressing client goals for change is a primary aspect of each patient's treatment plan. An ideal outcome from receiving mental health services is to experience your life in a new way via a fresh perspective armed with previously unknown insights and knowledge about yourself and your life now made available to you. This new and deeper understanding of our internal selves, our close relationships, as well as others in general, can be achieved through the psychotherapeutic healing process. You would not be here if you weren't seeking healing and change in your life for the better. I look forward to working with you to help significantly improve your overall mental health, mood, motivation, relationships, self-esteem, daily functioning, and sense of overall well-being.
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process between myself and the patient. My therapeutic approach provides support, guidance, and education, while the patient is an active participant in the process. We will work together to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs. Psychotherapy can be a challenging process, but it is also a rewarding one. I have seen my patients make significant progress in their mental health and their quality of life. If you are struggling with a mental health condition, I encourage you to consider seeking psychotherapy. Our working together can be a valuable tool for improving your mental health and your life. Here are some specific examples of how psychotherapy has helped my patients: A patient with depression was able to reduce his symptoms and begin to feel empowered and much more hopeful about his future life. A patient with anxiety was able to learn how to manage her anxiety and start to participate in social activities again while also experiencing greater success in her work. A patient with post-traumatic stress disorder was able to process his trauma and start to live a more normal life without continuing to endure overwhelming fear and sadness.
My foundation in training is with the Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) model while incorporating a humanistic/eclectic approach. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on changing the way people think and behave. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected, and that by changing one of these areas, we can also change the others. In our work together, we will identify negative or distorted thinking patterns that are contributing to their problems. Once these patterns have been identified, we will collaboratively develop more realistic and helpful ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Here are a few of the specific CBT treatment techniques: Cognitive Restructuring Behavioral Activation Problem-Solving Skills Training
My greatests successes have come from working with those individuals who are intrinsically motivated to create positive change for themselves. Then, I am able to come alongside and provide the kind of deep insight and resultant therapeutic changes that the individual deeply desires. As a result of our work together, the individual experiences positive change into a whole new experience and way of living their lives on this planet by following a more successful and mentally healthy path never before achieved on their own.