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Adults
In my work with Adults, I enjoy treating mood
disorders (Bipolar), depression, anxiety disorders, and some thought
disorders. Although I prefer to refer clients experiencing an eating
disorder or an addiction disorder to a specialist, I am happy to offer
therapeutic support for individuals in active recovery. I am especially
interested in working with adults experiencing grief and loss issues, and
have a special passion for working with adults who are living with a chronic
medical condition. My work with families, who are negotiating a terminal
cancer
diagnosis with one of their loved
ones, is an incredible opportunity to help family members find meaning and
strength out an inevitable and untimely loss.
Children/Youth/Teens
As
a twenty year veteran teacher, some of the most inspirational and meaningful
memories of my days as a classroom teacher came from my capacity to
understand and enjoy children. I have experience working with children ages
8 to 18 in a mental health agency capacity. It has been my experience that
children and teens can be incredibly resilient, insightful, and creative
when encouraged, affirmed, and celebrated for the unique individuals that
they are. I am comfortable working with children and teens who are
struggling with issues of depression, shyness, and self identity. I also
work with children who are struggling with ADD/ADHD, school performance
issues (both under-achievers and over-achievers), motivation issues, and
Bipolar depression. I also offer school consultation services, which can
include classroom observations, teacher/parent conferences, behavior and/or
performance contracts, and general student advocacy services!
Families & Couples
My graduate school training is in Family
Systems Therapy, which is a real passion for me as a therapist. After all, I
come from a family and I am also a member of a family! Family dynamics are a
fascinating area of study, and I am especially intrigued by the unique
patterns of behavior and communication all families engage in to solve
problems and function as a unit. Family conflict is a normal part of family
development, yet unresolved family conflict can inhibit individual
development and personal growth within each family member. I have found that
families often struggle with issues of power and control, establishing and
maintaining appropriate rules and family roles, and maintaining healthy
levels of intimacy and closeness. When an individual family member is
experiencing depression or anxiety, that individual’s experience can often
have a negative influence on the overall functioning of the family. I truly
enjoy helping families re-define who they are, maintain or discover new
levels of intimacy and closeness, and explore new ways of communicating with
one another.
My work with couples is around supporting
closeness and intimacy, negotiating individual and shared roles,
understanding normal adult development, embracing individual and gender
differences, and supporting individuals who have a spouse with a mental
health disorder. I am happy to refer couples seeking divorce services or
child custody services to family mediation. I am not qualified to offer
“expert testimony” regarding parenting or custody issues, nor will I accept
clients who are in the process of filing for divorce. It is my policy to
refer couples experiencing spousal abuse to domestic violence specialists.
College Students
I believe that an individual’s
college experience can be one of the more memorable times in one’s life.
When an individual enters college, whether it be a technical school,
community college, a four year undergraduate program, or graduate school,
that individual commonly experiences a rush of excitement, anticipation, and
great hope for the new life they are about to create. That excitement can
also lead to natural feelings of caution or dread, knowing that this
endeavor involves a great commitment of time, energy, and financial
resources. I enjoy helping college students of ANY age negotiate the
following school-related issues: Independence and self care, time
management, stress management, juggling work/school/family, academic
achievement, self esteem & confidence, academic motivation, career identity
and role exploration, relationship issues, depression & anxiety, etc. I
offer a 20% discount for any adult enrolled in a college program.
Senior Citizens
I have a passion for serving the aging
population because it holds one of our culture’s richest assets! It has been
my experience that most seniors have witnessed many societal and historical
changes, have raised and launched their children and grandchildren into
successful careers and families of their own, have led active and engaging
lives, have enjoyed rich and fulfilling careers and professional lives, and
are usually finding creative ways to stay engaged and healthy in their later
years. My therapeutic work with seniors has included addressing the
following issues: Grief and loss, widowhood, empty nest, retirement,
changing roles, chronic medical stressors, loss of mobility, family of
origin issues, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, chronic pain, physical
deterioration, ageism (discrimination), changing economic status, and
sleep/nutrition/exercise maintenance. I offer a 20% discount for any senior,
age 55 and older.
Veterans
We all know the horrors of war, yet many of
us realize the incredible personal toll it can take on our veterans.
Although many of our returning war veterans, both young and old alike appear
to go on and function quite well in their civilian lives, some have never
had the opportunity to process their own private, individual war
experiences. I have had the honor of witnessing both the acute experiences
of war veterans (trauma, PTSD, functional disabilities, etc.) to the
gentler, historical experiences of war veterans. Taking the opportunity to
have a professional person witness our own unique stories helps bring
understanding, meaning, and closure to the unique experiences of all
veterans - young and old, female and male, ordinary and extra-ordinary. It
is my pleasure to offer a 20% discount for any veteran or active service
member.
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