No two people want the same thing from psychotherapy. Some want concrete solutions for specific symptoms or life problems, while others seek the safety of a non-judgmental relationship from which to explore their past, present, and feelings about the future. As a therapist, I believe in responding to the wishes of the patient, starting with a natural, conversational rapport and allowing the conversation to develop organically toward whatever goals and topics you may want to address.

I have been trained in active, short-term approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and methods grounded in mindfulness techniques, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). My doctoral training emphasized a modern psychodynamic approach that is more exploratory and open-ended in nature, using the relationship between us to hypothesize about how you function in other important contexts in your life, and uses the clinical encounter as a setting safe enough to practice new ways of relating. My goal as a clinician is to match your needs to the skills and methods best suited to what you are facing and what you need to reach your goals, so my style is pragmatic and eclectic enough to change from moment to moment depending on what is going on in your life.

I primarily have worked with adolescents and young adults, but have experience with older adults as well. I am comfortable addressing issues pertaining to religion and spirituality, and have advance training in the treatment of eating disorders and body image problems. I also feel comfortable treating perfectionism, anxiety and mood disorders, and substance abuse, along with the full spectrum of life, work, and relationship issues that often motivate people to engage in therapy.

You will find me engaged and active in our work together, open with who I am as a human being, and encouraging a model of sanity that includes self-compassion, acceptance of the world as it is, and a mindful presence that finds the meaning and humor in most situations.