I work with individuals, couples and families in all stages of life. Here’s a short list of some of the folks I work with and types of issues that I treat:

I work with:

  • LGBTQ
  • Sex therapy
  • Infidelity/affairs
  • Parenting and co-parenting
  • Dating
  • Communication
  • Unresolved conflict
  • Premarital counseling
  • Divorce and separation
  • Difficult break-ups
  • Identity transformation
  • Life transitions
  • Grief and loss
  • Depression/stress/anxiety
  • Polyamory/ethical non-monogamy and open relationships

Over the years I’ve found one-size-fits-all therapy isn’t a fit for everybody. I use a combination of several approaches to help you heal your relationship with yourself and with the people you’re close to. You may be familiar with some of these practices or they may be entirely new to you. We’ll work together to find the right balance.

My favorite tools are:

  • Hypnosis – I trained at the Eastburn Institute of Hypnosis in 2010. Hypnotherapy is one of the best ways to help people quickly change stubborn patterns of behavior and thought. I use it to transform negative self talk, boost confidence and self-esteem, and move on from guilt, shame, resentment or anger. There are numerous applications of this well-established, psychotherapeutic tradition. You can read more about my approach here.
  • The Enneagram – The Enneagram is a powerful tool for psychological and spiritual growth. The system describes 9 strategies that we use to keep us safe from harm and get our needs met. These strategies are habitual patterns of thought and behavior that enable us to survive in the world, but also keep us stuck in ways that limit us. I’ve found the Enneagram to be instrumental in helping people, especially couples, grow and evolve.
  • The Gottman Method for Couples – The Gottmans have contributed over 30 years worth of data and research on the components of successful relationships to the field of couples therapy. What I love most about the Gottman’s work are the practical tools that build on what’s already working in your relationship and help you work toward a future that’s mutually satisfying and fulfilling. This method is it’s easy to apply and usually creates rapid change. With this type of approach, couples report experiencing more positive feelings overall in the relationship creating more closeness and intimacy.
  • Imago Therapy for Couples – Imago Therapy is based on the work of Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. I use his strategies often to help couples dialogue about what they want and need from each other. I’ve found it helps couples to restructure the way they communicate, which is often all that’s needed to get on the other side of recurring conflicts.
  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy – A solution focused approach means I like to work quickly to solve problems, reframe dilemmas in a more positive light, and help people define realistic and achievable goals. It’s focused on the future rather than the past. I like to assign homework and actionable items whereby we can track progress and change.
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy – In contrast to the solution focused approach, Emotionally Focused Therapy (or EFT), allows time and space for the more classical components of psychotherapy: compassion, empathy, understanding, validation, and acceptance, to come forth and produce healing. It’s an evidence based approach that’s adapted from attachment theory, which uses sound scientific theory to describe our different styles of relating to others and ourselves. I look forward to telling you more about it.

I also use:

I have my philosophical roots in some of these models (above) and we can talk more about what they mean and how they can benefit you. What’s most important in our first meeting is, do you like me and and do you get the feeling I’m someone you can trust? If so, the other technical details aren’t so significant. Life is a grand experiment. So is therapy. I’ll pull my interventions and techniques from multiple modalities and use what I feel is appropriate and right for you. And if it’s not right, I’ll try a different approach. I’ve got lots of resources and I’ll help make sure you’re in touch with your own.

What to expect from a session:

A typical session lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. You’ve experienced a lot. Let’s take time to explore it while thinking about what you would like to be different. I want to hear your story; how you’ve found yourself in your current situation. I’m future/goal-oriented so I’ll ask about what’s happening for you now and where you’d like to be. Setting goals can take a little time but I’ve found that once we establish the direction we’re headed, getting there may take less time than you think.

Whether you’re coming in on your own or with someone you love, we can get a lot accomplished in the first session. After we get to know each other and I get a feel for what dynamics are at play in your life and in your relationship(s), we’ll break them down and rebuild in a way that serves you better.

I find that 90 minute sessions work well for couples; since there are three of us it gives us more space to work. We can meet as often as you’d like and the length of time we work together is up to us. Some folks come every week, some bi-weekly or once a month, and some come to check in every few months. It all depends on the level of support you need and what works well with your schedule and budget.