My approach.
Our first session is to gather your history, current concerns, and reasons for your seeking treatment. I will do a careful assessment to determine the nature of the symptoms or issues that bother you.
Together, we set goals and decide which specific symptoms and areas of discomfort to target initially. We identify and understand the relationship among situations (triggers), thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, in the present and also linked to early experiences and relationships.
We may use a range of evidence-based approaches including behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, emotion regulation techniques, understanding underlying beliefs about oneself and the world that drive unhealthy interpersonal patterns and feelings.
As symptoms and distress subside, and as new more helpful habits and coping skills develop, we will continue to address triggers, beliefs, behaviors, prior experiences, etc. that are relevant to maintaining your progress and preventing relapse.
The end goal is for you to implement new coping skills and thought patterns so you feel happy, productive, and successful. I strive to help you not only to be free of symptoms or bad habits, but to help you envision the life you want to lead and create a path to get there.
Who I Serve
Adolescents (15 and older)
Young adults
Adults
Seniors
What is Provided
Individual therapy, couple/marital therapy, family therapy, and group therapy for specific issues, such as women and drinking.
Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Use
Subspecialties in my addiction practice include:
Women-specific CBT treatment targeting drinking patterns, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and other challenges common among women who struggle with drinking. I offer individual, couple/family, and sometimes run a women’s group for this.
Teaching family members (spouses, partners, parents, siblings, etc.) how to support the patient’s abstinence and change in substance use, and repair/improve the couple or family relationship.
Helping military service members and Veterans with substance abuse problems and emotional and relationship issues specific to that population.
Consultation (2-3 sessions) in which I evaluate a patient’s alcohol and drug use and history to provide feedback on diagnosis and what next steps, if any, are recommended.
In the addiction field, I work with male and female patients age 15 and up, who abuse alcohol, nicotine, and drugs including opiates, marijuana (weed, cannabis), cocaine, sedatives (benzodiazepines such as Xanax and valium), stimulants (amphetamines such as Adderall, etc.), nicotine (smoking or vaping cessation), and hallucinogens. I also treat other compulsive behaviors such as gambling and shopping.
Many people who struggle with addiction also have mood and/or anxiety and other disorders. I am one of relatively few providers who are fully trained to assess and treat both the addiction and the co-occurring disorders.
My outpatient treatment is evidence-based, to help you stop or reduce problem substance use via a range of CBT strategies and coping skills. If indicated, I will help determine if a higher level of care or medical consultation is necessary. I also provide continuing care and relapse prevention treatment upon discharge from higher level of care. CBT can be an alternative to or used in conjunction with patients’ 12-step program, like AA, NA, Al-Anon, or SMART Recovery, or Refuge Recovery.
I believe in a team treatment approach, and will collaborate closely with addiction psychiatrists and other providers (suboxone providers, recovery coaches, sponsors, other therapists, school counselors, etc.), as well as family members, as necessary.
Psychotherapy for stress, depression, anxiety and life challenges
In addition to Addiction, Depression and anxiety, I treat: Stress, eating behavior you want to change (weight loss), Adult ADHD, feeling stuck, feeling lost, failure to launch, behavior or relationship patterns you want to change, low self-esteem, marital/couple conflict, upset related to life transitions such as divorce, loss, grief, retirement, adjustment to college, etc. I also provide evidence-based marital or family therapy for relationship difficulties and to improve ineffective and frustrating communication patterns.
I have experience and expertise in treatment of mood problems (depression, sadness, bipolar disorders, dysthymia - chronic low-grade depression), and anxiety (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, obsessive thoughts). After a careful assessment of symptoms and history, I use a range of evidence-based approaches including behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, emotion regulation techniques, understanding underlying beliefs about oneself and the world that drive current maladaptive interpersonal patterns and feelings, understanding current impact of early family patterns, relationships, and traumatic experiences.