• Anxiety/panic/phobias
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Depression and loss
• Acute crises
• Work place stress/performance anxiety
• Overwhelming adjustments required by new circumstances
• Lack of confidence/low self-esteem
• Poor conflict resolution skills/anger management
• Relationship dilemmas
• Eating disorders, body image problems
• Adoption issues
• Identity confusion
• Unresolved family-of-origin issues
• Sexual abuse
• Stress-related physical symptoms

My approach in therapy is to look for solutions within you. This may mean finding the roots of the problem, the place where your own growth potential got stuck. It may mean reorganizing the way you experience the problem in everyday life. I draw on many different therapy modalities but generally my approach would be described as psychodynamic, experiential, and humanistic. If, on the other hand, you just want some advice, or to learn some new skills, we can do that too. See below under consultation.

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Clinical Screening Assessment
I will usually do a clinical screening assessment to clarify a diagnosis for
someone seeking therapy. Most often this means we'll work through a 20
minute symptom inventory in the second appointment, or I'll give you a
longer inventory to complete at home. The purpose is not to label you but
to find out how severe your difficulties are and to make sure I have not
overlooked something important. The fees are minimal since I only bill for
the time it takes me to score and analyse the results. I will always give
you feedback about the results. We can then talk about the different kinds
of therapy found to be effective for that particular problem. Some clients
know what kind of therapy they want, others like to try several methods.

Consultation
This is usually short-term work in which I give you the best advice I have to help you deal with a common stressor, such as bereavement, separation, empty nest, blended family, workplace stress. Consultation often merges with skill building therapy such as assertiveness training. It's a practical form of therapy that aims to expand your knowledge and skills. Clients typically leave my office with typed summaries of new skills.

Examples:

• I've never learned how to express a disagreement properly.

• How can I prepare my kids for our upcoming marital separation?

• My spouse died a year ago. I feel bad about liking/loving someone else.

• My life doesn't have much meaning now that my kids have gone.

• I need my job but I have the boss from hell.