WHAT I AM LIKE AS A THERAPIST

I do not believe that one approach to psychotherapy works for everyone. Instead, I believe (and research supports) that different people facing various challenges are helped by different approaches. At times, and depending on a number of factors, I might draw from any of the following schools of psychotherapy: Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Feminist. For me, this flexibility allows me to meet the needs of my clients more effectively.

I am a very straightforward therapist—I’ll always tell you why I’m asking about something or suggesting you try something. I believe in “demystifying” therapy, meaning I believe the more you understand about why we’re doing something, the more likely it is that it will be helpful to you. I also believe in helping you gain new insights and skills that you can later use on your own, without the help of a therapist. One thing I’m not is passive: I’m not going to just sit there and say “uh-huh” and “how do you feel about that?” I will certainly listen, and I will ask you how you feel (among many other things), but I think there’s a lot more to good therapy than just listening. When I have an idea I think might help, I’ll share it with you.

I try to be “real” when talking with clients. I’m quite open about my own life, and when I think an example of my own struggle or insight might be helpful, I’ll share that—not because I think my answers are necessarily yours, but because I believe that psychotherapy is a real encounter between two real people (not a distant, formal expert “treating” a “patient”). I also bring my sense of humor into the sessions. I hope my bringing humor into the session may invite you to make a similar choice, or at least provide a momentary respite from the seriousness of the concerns we’re dealing with.