About Me
I believe therapy should be interesting, adventurous, and enjoyable. I'm not interested in “fixing” anyone, because I don't believe there is anything inherently “wrong” with any of us. Instead, I see my therapeutic role as simply helping you get more of what you want out of life, and less of what you don't want. I also bring a transpersonal perspective to my work, meaning I can help you examine your connection to the larger whole.
My Philosophy & Approach
First and foremost, I am non-judgmental in my work with clients.
I find that human beings are immensely creative when it comes to coping with life. There might be something about you that you find unacceptable or shameful, but to me it would just be an interesting way that you found to deal with circumstances in your life. If it works for you, we leave it alone. If it doesn't work, we change it without judging it.
Second, the work I do goes beyond traditional talk therapy and can be very transformative for clients who are ready to “go deep.”
This often includes individuals who have seen multiple therapists and are ready to tackle significant challenges. I utilize a range of modalities that help clients get out of their heads and access the wisdom of their bodies, where deep and lasting change happens.
Finally, I'm committed to helping my clients achieve real progress.
We all have a need to have our stories heard and our upsets acknowledged. However, my strength is in ultimately helping you change the story rather than simply validating it. If you are looking for a therapist that will primarily provide empathic listening, I'm probably not your guy.
Professional Background
I've had the pleasure of working with individuals, couples, families, and groups in private practice since 1995. With a degree in mathematics from Vanderbilt University and 12 years of data processing experience before completing my Masters in Social Work at New York University, I bring strong analytical skills to the practice of cognitive therapy.
To balance this rational approach, I have extensively trained in the most effective experiential modalities I could find, including Holotropic Breathwork™, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Core Energetics, EMDR, Breath Therapy, and hypnotherapy.
As I deepened my grounding in three of these approaches, I began teaching them to other practitioners in the training programs for Core Energetics, Integral Breath Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.
THE GAME OF LIFE
Imagine your life is like a video game... The question to ask yourself is -- how are you playing your game of life? Are you complaining because you don't like the way the game is designed? Are you envying the game of the person next to you? When challenges are presented, is your automatic response to say – “Why is that happening?” or “That shouldn't be happening.”?
When we argue with reality or simply don't respond optimally to life's challenges, our responses produce even more serious concerns, and life continues to get worse. If you have a long history of meeting life's challenges with unproductive responses - whether it's refusing to accept reality, pursuing unfulfilling relationships, or succumbing to addictions -- you may feel you've dug yourself a hole you can never get out of. But you can always choose to improve your response to life now and turn the game around.
My job is to coach you to be the best possible player of the game in front of you -- to respond optimally to every challenge your particular game of life presents. In doing so, I aim to help you create more stable and rewarding life circumstances that support your journey towards getting what you want.