Modalities

Individual Therapy:  While I do have areas of specialization, I also have a general practice of psychology and work with clients facing the typical issues of 21^st century America:  depression, anxiety, trauma and couples issues.  I probably differ somewhat from my colleagues in that I tend to be more active, directive and goal-oriented than most therapists.  I also believe it is often helpful to function as a case manager and  frequently call other involved professionals, often refer to community resources, and may become actively involved in different life challenges ranging  from financial issues to health concerns.

Group Therapy:  I have two or three therapy groups going at all times.  Most of my groups are for full adults (approximate age 35 – 60) but I also run a group for new adults (approximate age 20 – 30).  These groups are essentially process groups although they also include techniques from dream analysis, psychodrama, gestalt, and strategic therapies.  I have found that in a number of instances, group therapy is more effective  than individual therapy in terms of helping clients make rapid change and at sustaining change in the face of real world pressure.

Family/Marital Therapy:  Family therapists see a person both as an individual--with their own ideas, passions, strengths and weaknesses--and also as a member of a larger system which has profound effects on choices, feelings, motivation, and possibilities.   This systems orientation gives rise to different types of interventions and understandings than an individual or skills-based approach; in most cases, the systems approach allows the client more freedom to make therapeutic movement and helps release guilt and fear  more easily.  My training and experience help me see the effects of larger systems on almost every individual I work with.  I frequently include significant others in the therapy even if they only participate for a limited number of sessions.

Hypnosis, EMDR, Meditation, NLP, Dream Work and Inner Imagery:  The efficacy of traditional talk therapy is often accelerated through the employment of various adjunctive techniques which facilitate rapid change.  I was trained in hypnosis by Jack Watkins and received advanced training via a variety of Ericksonian therapists/hypnotists.  I took workshops in both NLP and EMDR and use both regularly especially for trauma and anxiety.  My experience with meditation dates from my six years of living in an ashram in the 1970’s and is useful for a variety of issues from anxiety, to pain control, to self-knowledge.  And my interest in the mythic and archetypal  dimensions of human experience leads me to use dream work and inner imagery.