“SELF-INQUIRY IS THE PROCESS AND THE GOAL ALSO. 'I AM' IS THE GOAL AND THE FINAL REALITY. TO HOLD TO IT WITH EFFORT IS SELF-INQUIRY. WHEN SPONTANEOUS AND NATURAL IT IS REALIZATION."
SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI
PHILOSOPHY & FOCUS
My theoretical orientation and approach to psychotherapy is primarily psychodynamic in the sense that I am interested in the meaning and function of symptoms and believe that they represent the struggles of the individual and are more than just biological in nature, inherent and unchangeable. I work with individuals to help them gain insight and awareness while at the same time striving to interrupt the patterns of ineffective coping and self-management that are self-destructive and self-limiting in nature. This process involves self-inquiry through deep presence and listening, introspection, reflection, feeling and thinking, analysis, willful intention, experimentation, and practice.
My work is influenced by the multi-disclipinary study of human nature and focused graduate study in philosophy, religion, and psychology. I am influenced in my work by Eastern religious perspectives and when appropriate, draw on the philosophical concepts and practices of these traditions in my work with patients. I have done post-graduate studies in psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy and eating disorders, compulsions, and addictions. I value the impact of culture and society on psychological experience and am deeply committed to equity and social justice.
I work with patients in individual, couples, and family therapy. We usually meet once a week in open-ended therapy to address presenting problems. In some cases, I may contract with someone for short-term therapy (more single-issue focused work) or work on a consultative basis.
At the moment, I am working online (which is termed “telepsychology”) using a secure encrypted videoconferencing platform for healthcare due to the pandemic and will continue doing so even after the pandemic for patients for whom geography, access, or convenience are issues, or for those who prefer this mode of treatment. Insurance companies are now reimbursing for telepsychology.
I also offer parenting consultations to parents around child development, family, and parenting issues. We can take one or more sessions to perform an evaluation and a plan that can be carried out at home by the family.
In my clinical practice, I see patients with varied and multiple issues ranging in severity. Issues frequently addressed in psychotherapy are the following:
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD disordered eating, anxious self-harm behaviors, and other anxiety issues
SEXUAL ASSAULT/TRAUMA
Recovery from intimate partner assault or rape and other forms of trauma occurring in early childhood or in later life
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
Food, exercise, internet/technology overuse, repetitive automatic behaviors, and self-destructive relationships
FAMILY PROBLEMS
Problematic family dynamics, complex parenting challenges, and child developmental issues affecting family
EATING DISORDERS
Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, emotional eating, compulsive exercise, body image disturbance and dissatisfaction, and avoidant-restrictive feeding disorder
DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES
Related to the experience of adolescence, transition to college, marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, illness, coping with loss, and aging
MULTICULTURAL ISSUES
Impact of race/ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as discrimination, bias, inequity, and social injustice on psychology
RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
Romantic, friendship, family, and parent-child relational issues