I treat Individual Clients for a wide range of reasons, for which they are hoping to feel and function better. Common issues include: general anxiety and stress, difficult childhood and family experiences (past and present), relationship struggles, depression, body-image and personality issues.  I also see clients who want to work toward developing a better self-image, and are asking questions like, "What’s my purpose?" or "Why is life so hard and upsetting for me?" and "With life being so bad...Why am I even here?”  Some clients have come from other directions with questions like, "If I am doing everything I can to get it right, then why hasn't everything gotten betten?"  And still other clients use psychological and spiritual cousnseling to achieve personal growth is some way that may or may not be connected to a psychological or spiritual struggle.  My approach to treatment varies based on your concerns and experiences. 

 Generally as I get to know and understand you concerns and the experiences and symptoms you have, as I flow through a progression of approaches, like going from the simple to the complex.  I am very comfortable starting with brief Solution-Focused and Psycho-Dynamic approaches that can be remarkably effective in getting you “unstuck.”  My experience gives me flexiblity to understand and work with clients who have an extended history of symptomatic experiences.   So, whether your concerns and their solutions are mostly about current experiences, or they are going to be searched out from past experience as well…that depends on you, your awareness of your concerns and symptoms, as well as your capacities for change and growth.  But don't worry if you think that your capacities or abilities are not sufficient...you were created to generate them, especially when you become aware of what they are.  In any case, I aim to provide a supportive environment in which you are able to work toward becoming the full person you were created to be: a person able to generate the capacities and abilities created within you if not already developed, and to establish purpose, a vision and goals for living your life in all its blessings.  

It goes well and more quickly when I see individual clients weekly at first, then perhaps pacing session out two or more weeks as you are managing better, growing and accomplishing whatever you need and decide to accomplish.

 In most cases, we can schedule your initial appointment within two days of your initial phone call.  And depending on the flexibility of your schedule, even the next day.  Call me and let me know what’s going on with you, I let you know if I can help with your concerns, or I'll make a referral where possible.  Check other parts of my website for Lists of Symptoms & Conditions, Links to Resources, or perhaps you have a question that is addressed in the FAQ section.

 What kind of experiences or symptoms might indicate that you can benefit from a really good therapeutic relationship?  Well, you probably already know since you have taken the time to search the internet and have made it to this page on my site.  Whatever, level of distress, dysfunction, or debilitation, even if mild...may be related to commonly known experiences associated with; reactions to stress, trauma or crisis; or sexual problems that people experience.  Even when these have become established as a personality pattern, you are able to benefit from psychological therapy to find significant relief, healing and growth.  Psychotherapy is also helpful in treating somatic problems, reactions to physical illness; and any number of habit forming, compulsive or addictive patterns.  In order to obtain a good outcome for therapy, it is important to consider many other factors, such as: motivation, ability to verbalize one’s emotional feelings, capacity to tolerate frustration, willingness to examine one’s experience in psychological and spiritual terms, and finally, a key factor is the desire to change.  

 What about Children?  Well, the younger we are, the more likely our psychological concerns will increasingly show up as emotional and conduct problems.  So I do see children as they experience psychological distress or maladaptive behavior.  Generaly I see preteen and adolescent children only within Family Therapy, with the parents involved in the therapy sessions as well.  With older teenagers, I may spend more time with them.  And especially before they turn 18 years of age, I will still see them within a Family Therapy context.