Clients
I offer individual psychotherapy and psychological assessment to adults ages 18 and older and have had the privilege of treating people from remarkably diverse cultural, professional and family backgrounds. Many of the people I work with have spent a long time adapting to the expectations of others while gradually losing touch with who they are. You may recognize yourself if you…
often question your own thoughts and feelings and look to others for reassurance;
find yourself anticipating and meeting other people’s needs while struggling to identify/assert your own;
have achieved professional or personal success but nevertheless feel unfulfilled;
live between cultures and feel unsure where you belong, or how to remain true to yourself while staying connected to your family and community;
work hard to compensate for difficulties with attention, organization or follow through, often appearing capable to others while privately wondering why everyday demands require so much effort.
Together, we can look at how these patterns came about, what purpose they may have served and whether they continue to serve you now.
Psychotherapy
I’ve learned over the years that anxiety, depression, self doubt and relationship difficulties can sometimes reflect the strain of maintaining a facade of perfection or avoiding parts of ourselves that we may feel ashamed of. Psychotherapy, as I see it, is a collaborative process of exploration with two aims: to reduce symptoms that cause suffering and to help clients become more aware of parts of themselves that are difficult to acknowledge.
Giving these lesser-known parts a respectful hearing can loosen the hold of shame and make one’s efforts to hide them unnecessary. In this way, a person can grow inside, able to feel comfortable in their own skin and more secure in the belief that they can be themselves while also remaining in relationship with others.
I try to listen carefully, not only to what is being said but also to what may be difficult to put into words. I ask questions and share observations that may offer another way of understanding an experience. My approach to therapy is informed by a variety of perspectives, including:
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a type of therapy that explores parts of ourselves that may not be fully known to us. There is an emphasis on uncovering patterns of relating to ourselves and others, usually learned in childhood, originally motivated by a need for self-protection, but may presently be self-defeating and repeated in our adult relationships. The goal of therapy is to create a safe and containing space where these patterns may be allowed to emerge and worked through.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) helps us recognize spontaneously occurring thoughts that may influence our perception of life events. We may believe these thoughts to be true in a way that causes emotional distress, even though some of them may be distorted. CBT involves both therapist and client, working together to examine these thoughts, check their usefulness to you and try new and more helpful ways of responding to situations.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness helps us pay attention to our internal experiences as they occur from moment to moment. Learning to notice our thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations without immediately judging or reacting to them can create greater space for reflection and choice.
I’ve included here a selection of writings by authors whose contributions have guided and inspired my work.
Assessment
ADHD Assessment
I’m trained in the assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and offer this service to adult clients seeking to clarify whether they might have ADHD. The assessment involves a 2-3 hour-long clinical interview, several questionnaires consisting of self-report and informant ratings, brief performance-based tests of attention and working memory, and a feedback session. In some cases where learning differences may be present, I’ll refer the client for further neuropsychological testing.
Psychological Assessment
I may use psychological tests as part of therapy to help clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves and find new ways to approach the challenges they’re facing. The process is collaborative and exploratory, often guided by questions that brought them to therapy in the first place –like why certain emotions feel overwhelming, why relationship patterns repeat, and what might be getting in the way of change.