Individual, Couple, Family and Group Psychotherapy, Counseling, Educational Consultations and Workshops, in office and/or secure online telecommunication or phone.
With 25 years of general psychotherapy practice and on staff with organizations in Marin County and San Francisco, I work with you in a respectful, collaborative, strength-based, individualized way, based on your individual needs and goals. I've worked successfully with hundreds of people with various challenges in living and I'm an advocate of personal rights and healthy connection in relationships and groups.
Individual Therapy or Counseling
Face-to-Face In Office or via Secure Internet Sessions or Phone
Studies have shown that the single most important predictor of successful outcomes in therapy is the right fit between the therapist and client. In this regard, I am trained to respect your process of healing and growth and to actively work with you from our first contact, on phone or through email. You may need help with a single challenging or difficult transition; a "tune-up" for your relationship; a wound or loss from long ago or recently; a need to gain more trust in self. You may suffer from anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress. I actively endeavor to maintain a safe environment with a healthy equal power dynamic so you can have better outcomes in therapy and in your life. We can work together short or longer-term.
Telecommunication/Telehealth May Be Your Choice!
Telecommunication is becoming an increasingly popular option for clients who choose to talk with me via phone or see and hear me individually, in a group or workshop via internet from the comfort of their home. Telecommunication is a way to save money, time, and traffic stress. Depending on where you live, your individual needs, and your desire to work with someone who specializes in a specific field, we can choose to have all telecommunication sessions, alternate face-to-face in my office for individual or group sessions, schedule telecommunication when you're feeling ill or have an emergency. Face-to-face sessions may continue to be your choice. (See my section on Telehealth and Telecommunication.)
Educational Consultation Individually and in Workshops, Online or Phone
As an educational consultant I offer secure online telecommunication or phone sessions. You may be seeking help on specific issues with someone experienced and specialized in that area; transportation, weather, or other situations are difficult, you're ill and still want a session, you're busy and want to avoid transportation time and hassle. (See my section on Telehealth and Telecommunication.)
Couple Therapy, Family Conflict Resolution, Mother-Daughter Relationships
Depending on individual goals, I collaboratively work to help each member identify and change dysfunctional patterns, gain relief from rigid roles, "hear" each other's feelings, needs, and thoughts. We focus on commonalities and differences to move forward with healthier interaction. This often includes learning and using effective communication skills, understanding and setting boundaries, active listening, knowing limits and engaging in successful problem-solving and negotiation skills. Agreements and new patterns can be developed that result in a better quality of life for individuals, relationships, and families. (See my sections on couple, group, family and mother-daughter relationships.)
Group Therapy
We all have group experience beginning in our family of origin, in organizations, special interest groups, friends, etc. I have experienced the healthy and unhealthy aspects of groups and so have you, I imagine! People who are drawn to one of the groups I facilitate may have some anxiety, curiosity, hope, and excitement. They tell me that while they've experienced individual therapy, their interested in the experience of learning from others, understanding how others have coped, gaining acknowledgement, and knowing they're not alone in a safe, therapeutic group or workshop environment. I've witnessed the amazing power of groups in providing individuals with opportunities to heal and change, feel more comfortable and stronger within themselves, learn more adaptive skills, find relief from old, outgrown roles and self-limiting, inaccurate beliefs. Groups and workshops can also offer us a microcosm of our lives outside and in a more protected environment give us opportunities to try out new, healthier behaviors. Although we each have our individual process of healing and growth, groups are a way that we can travel on a journey together. (See more about my groups in the "Group Psychotherapy" section).
Consultations With Partners, Family Members, or Parents of a Child Involved in a High Demand Group (See my High Demand Group Section via home page)
For Mental Health Professionals
I offer consultations related to one of my specialties of working with individuals, families and couples affected by coercive influence and high demand groups and relationships. This can include spiritually abusive groups, clergy abuse, domestic violence or abuse, and coercive one-on-one unequal power relationships such as a teacher/student, employer/employee, intimate partner, etc. These relationships demand total commitment in an unequal power dynamic with one person taking increasing amounts of control over a person's life, and the compliant person loosing autonomy, a healthy sense of self, individual rights and freedoms.
