I see clients who are struggling with various levels of sadness, fear and anger: from mild sadness to severe depression; from stress and tension to severe anxiety; from growing frustration to serious anger issues. Clients may internalize these feelings (can lead to a mood disorder), externalize them (can lead to control and anger issues) or medicate them (can lead to addictions) or any combination of the above.
I utilize newer techniques that, in my experience, more rapidly stimulate and support emotional processing in a deep yet safe and gentle way:
*Brainspotting
*EEG Biofeedback
Throughout my career I have done deeper reconstructive work with clients who have been traumatized either in their childhood experiences or in their adult life or both. When people are traumatized they react in one of three ways: fight, flight or freeze. It is harmful to our nervous system when we cannot discharge pent up physical and emotional energy. Undischarged energies keep the body in a state of hyper-alertness that actually causes damage to the brain over time (The Trauma Spectrum; Robt. Scaer, 2005). The exciting thing is that we now have tools available to gently and effectively stimulate and support emotional processing. I work closely with your primary care physician or a psychiatrist when medications are necessary.
I see many Couples for counseling. I do weekly sessions as well as intensive couples' counseling (typically a week-long program of customized sessions). I am trained in Emotionally Focussed Therapy for Couples (EFT), employing what I consider to be state of the art techniques that allow for couples to identify their marital dance and create new healthy patterns of relating. This type of couples' therapy is designed to reduce conflict and create tremendous empathy and softness of heart in the process of reconnecting at very deep levels. EFT is highly effective. Please check out the following site (by Sue Johnson, founder):
Since 1985 I have been treating clients who struggle with sex addiction, affairs and infidelity of all kinds (see Men's Issues and Men's Group on this site). Clients may not be addicted, but that is evaluated for so that the proper ingredients are included in the program. Clients are involved in group, individual and couples counseling for recovery. I have found that those involved in these destructive behaviors need accountability for abstinence, discovery of how they use these behaviors to deal with stress and resolution of developmental issues in order to achieve the goal of integrity in their lives and their relationships.
This is accomplished with the powerful combination of group and individual therapy. I am the co-author of the book Lonely All The Time: Recognizing, Understanding and Overcoming Sex Addiction, for Addicts and Codependents. My 25 years of experience in addiction and infidelity treatment has demonstrated that recovery is achievable for those who commit to a program like this!
It is critical that spouses receive help with the devastating natural emotions triggered by the violation and betrayal of the marital trust. Infidelity coupled with the deception and manipulation involved in keeping the behaviors secret takes an incredible toll. Many times it is the spouse who has discovered the behaviors and begins the process of getting professional help. Please note: When a couple comes for help as a couple, it is more beneficial than if the offending party comes alone. I am an EFT-trained couples' therapist who most strongly supports the healing and preservation of marriages and families.
Another specialty is Intensive Fast Track counseling (see Intensive Fast Track on this site). There are times when people need to dig deeper to get pain addressed because it cannot be addressed in an hourly session-a-week approach. There are times when someone needs to get things done quickly due to business commitments. There are times when people feel a great deal of pain and want to address it quickly. In any of these circumstances a Fast Track may be helpful. When indicated, I see clients several hours a day, typically for a week at a time, and may have another therapist involved similarly to significantly drain the pool of pain to restore healthy functioning. This is done for couples as well as individuals.
My faith is very important to me (Christian). In addition to being a psychologist who is a believer, I am a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor. I actively incorporate each person's faith (if desired) into the recovery process. I enjoy working with people of varied faiths, cultures and backgrounds and work to be culturally and spiritually sensitive to my clients and their beliefs.
