Services

My training specifically prepares me to focus on relationship issues with couples and families. I specialize in working with nearly and newly married couples and families, focusing on how patterns of relating and interactions together may prevent problems from being resolved. I also work with children of any age, as well as individuals.
The issues I address include:

Marital distress
Relationship issues
Parenting
Step parenting
Premarital counseling or education
Separation or Divorce
Depression
Anxiety
Childhood/Adolescent behavior problems
Low self esteem
Life transitions
Relationship enhancement or maintenance

Click on the items below for more information on specific programs and classes I offer.

Approaches to Counseling

I believe in the importance of approaching treatment with you uniquely as you and your specific situation is unique.
I work to not align with one person, rather I focus on the system (i.e. family, couple) to assess where the patterns are going wrong, how the problems are being maintained in that system, and where the patterns can be interrupted or altered for positive changes.
I work hard to assist in the repairing and reconnecting that may save your relationship.
I work realistically and respect your perspectives. If repair and reconnecting is found to not be possible, I will work with you through the appropirate next steps for all involved.

Therapeutic Approaches Include:

Solution-Focused Therapy: This approach is also known as solution-oriented therapy which focuses on strengths and less on the problems or pathology of the situation or person. This approach assumes that there are exceptions to the problems which become overlooked when problems are the focus. During treatment, focus may be on identifying the exceptions and solutions that you may already be using but may not be aware of its capacity to resolve or improve the presenting problem. The techniques used during this approach are positive in nature and guide you toward lasting change rather quickly.

I also employ techniques and interventions both in the office as well as outside of the office which help you to adjust the structure in the home, but also help me to gather significant amounts of information about family, couple, relationship dynamics in a short period of time. This approach is helpful with improving parenting skills, ineffective relationship dynamics, power/control problems, and child and adolescent misbehavior, just to name a few.

Throughout the treatment process with you I may incorporate other approaches such as play therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and narrative therapy. I also may include assessments or inventories in the treatment process to be sure that I accurately treat the problems, concerns at hand.