Psychotherapy

Description of Services

What kinds of issues do clients have?

• Depression

  a psychiatric disorder showing symptoms such as persistent feelings of hopelessness, dejection, poor concentration, lack of energy, inability to sleep, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies. Often treated with medication as well as psychotherapy.
• Anxiety

  a symptom of a number of disorders involving chronic feelings of worry, nervousness or agitation, often about something that is going to happen. Anxiety can also refer to an intense fear of real or imagined danger.
• Interpersonal conflict

  a symptom that could be related to marital problems, issues with other members of the family, or conflicts at work. Therapy focuses on resolving conflict and developing problem-solving and effective communication strategies.
• Sexual dysfunctions

  difficulty in developing intimate relationships due to inability to function sexually, lack of desire, or relationship conflict. Besides medical interventions, education and cognitive-behavioral programs can be helpful in treating the problems.
• Recovery from addictions

  for clients who are learning to live without alcohol, drugs, sex, or food. Therapy focuses on recognition and resolution of underlying issues related to the addiction, and developing effective coping strategies for cravings and other psychological symptoms.
• Low self-esteem

  could be a symptom of another disorder, or a problem in itself. Low self-esteem refers to clients who lack a feeling of self-worth, or a lack of self-love. Therapy focuses on empowerment, and developing a realistic and positive view of self.
• Effects of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder

  a trauma that involves threat to life of self or others causes a variety of symptoms that may or may not lead to a mental illness. Trauma may refer to childhood or more recent events. Therapy focuses on healing the wounds inflicted by the trauma, and developing and strengthening coping strategies and support resources.
• Spiritual issues

  a desire for a closer relationship with a higher power, negative attitudes toward spirituality that are impacting current functioning, a feeling of emptiness or lack of meaning or purpose in life. Therapy involves exploration of client’s belief systems and spiritual practices.

What types of services do I offer?

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

  is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. Cognitive-behavioral therapists teach that it is our thinking that causes us to feel and act the way we do. Therefore, if we are experiencing unwanted feelings and behaviors, it is important to identify the thinking that is causing the feelings / behaviors and to learn how to replace this thinking with thoughts that lead to more desirable reactions.
• Couples/marital counseling

  Therapeutic intervention can be very helpful when there is conflict in a relationship. For couples of all kinds, I can assist in clear communication strategies, conflict resolution, understanding of personal and relational issues, and improvement in sexual relations. Couples counseling is not covered by health insurance.
• Sex therapy

  A cognitive/behavioral program designed to educate the couple and retrain their behavioral patterns to remove the blocks to healthy sexual functioning. The couple completes a series of exercises, including relaxation techniques, designed to develop new behaviors and communication patterns. Sex therapy is not covered by health insurance.
• Focusing

  This technique is a way to help people connect with body, mind and spirit to improve their overall emotional and physical well-being. With Focusing, the goal is to understand problems in a symbolic, fresh way and perceive the inner meanings and the life-enhancing opportunities of the situation. Often, this type of exercise will produce symptom relief as well as greater insight and understanding.
• Relaxation techniques

  A set of behavioral exercises designed to teach the body to diminish physiological arousal at will. Examples include breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques are useful in preventing panic attacks, decreasing stress levels, and improving clear thinking.
• Guided visualization

  This technique is used to rehearse difficult situations and to teach the body to remain relaxed during the experience, as in systematic desensitization. The client is guided to participate in the feared event and taught how to control their response and reaction to the event. This technique can also be used to relive past events and learn healthier responses.
• Meditative therapy

  Meditation as a practice is helpful in getting in touch with deep beliefs and fears. Many different forms of meditation exist, and the client is taught several different ways of meditating until he or she finds the method that works for that particular client. Barriers to developing a regular practice are explored, and insights and lessons learned from meditation are discussed during therapy sessions.
• Spiritual exploration

  For individuals who want to explore their relationships with their higher powers, or who feel out of touch with their personal spirituality, they may benefit from discussion of the meaning and purpose of their lives. Questions like, what does God mean to me, or why is this happening to me? are examined in the context of the client’s total psychological history. The client may choose to utilize prayer and ritual in this type of therapy.