Style and Approach: Perhaps the most important aspect of successful therapy is the “fit” between client and therapist.  Therapy will be successful to the extent that my client and I develop a trusting relationship with each other, where my client feels increasingly safe and comfortable in disclosing personal information. My style tends to be quite engaging-active and interactive, goal-directed yet respectful of the pace set by my client. Over time, as a collaborative relationship develops, my clients and I most often develop a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in sessions, which often contain a healthy dose of humor.

My work with my clients most frequently takes a “psycho-dynamic” approach in which we explore historically-based, underlying patterns of motivations and behavior.  However, over my years of practice, I have necessarily developed a more eclectic approach utilizing a wide range of clinical techniques which are designed to provide the “best fit” for the individual needs of my clients.  Often times, I might take a cognitive-behavioral approach designed to first identify specific thoughts and patterns of thinking which might be self-defeating, and then identify and develop more realistic thoughts, thus reducing depression and anxiety.

When working with individuals or couples, my approach regularly includes elements of historical and present-day family relationships.  John Bradshaw, in his book on families, summarizes it well:  “The most important family rules are those that determine what it means to be a human being.  These rules embrace the most fundamental beliefs about raising children.  What parents believe about human life and human fulfillment governs their way of raising children.  The way children are parented forms their core beliefs about themselves.  Nothing could be more important.  Children are any culture’s greatest natural resource.  The future of the world depends on our children’s conception of themselves.  All their choices depend on their views of themselves.”  Thus, my work invariably covers many of the relationships between an individual’s family or origin, his or her present relationship dynamics, and the person’s self-concept and self-esteem.  In cognitive-behavioral therapy as well, individuals can become aware of many automatic thoughts related to relationship or family dynamics which are “distorted” and need to be more realistically evaluated.

Whether involving individuals or couples, therapy can be expected to increase self-understanding and personal development, help resolve conflict or cope with change, and facilitate communication and interpersonal relations.  All involved in successful therapy can expect to better manage their own lives and relationships, and experience increased life satisfaction.