 Profile
My major goal is to help people to live their lives fully and authentically. I have learned from my clients over the past 14 years what features of life are most important, and how easy it is to get lost in the technology and rapid pace of today’s world. Additionally the anxiety that is exacerbated by our current times (i.e. terrorism, media) only impacts people’s abilities to see their life goals clearly and to attain a sense of meaning, groundedness and centeredness. I am particularly sensitive to the dehumanizing elements of today’s society. People feel lost in their work, families of origin (external expectations of others in general) or just in the confusion they have always felt. Many endure years of numbness or pain. They come to therapy seeking answers and often feeling stigmatized, ashamed or “crazy”. Over the years I have worked with individuals and couples from all walks of life. I value my work greatly and strive to create the greatest comfort level while also challenging people to attain their goals. I use an open collaborative approach, which incorporates the multiple methodologies (e.g. psychodynamic, relational, existential, cross cultural, and analytic) I have trained in. Additionally I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to target certain symptoms/issues and stress reduction/holistic techniques where necessary.
I have always approached this work not as dealing with pathology but dealing with the issues inherent in life. Symptoms signal that something is wrong, and are not necessarily indicative of weakness or failure. My approach is to empower people, to illuminate strengths, while understanding challenges, and to prevent prior dysfunctional experiences or relationships from impacting present or future ones. One of the greatest outcomes of therapy is the ability to navigate oneself though the confusion and paralysis that is present in all of us at some time. When one understands how to do this one can overcome any obstacle. My approach will teach you the ingredients that are necessary to do this. Together we will discover the origins of your emotional and intellectual style and how these impact your present life choices, relationships, and general sense of fulfillment. My greatest purpose is to ensure that your needs are heard and addressed. People often fear expressing what is not working for them in therapy. I try to help you to do this, so that we can create a safe, comfortable environment in which to explore the many dimensions of yourself (i.e. culture, family, childhood, spirituality, work, dreams or goals, and other personal details of your life).
My education history involves leaving the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg to attend Boston University where I graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology. My belief in the power of experiential learning led me to decline some more prestigious offers to attend a small professional school that focused on the integration of clinical practice with academic training and research. I obtained my doctorate from The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, and as a result was able to work in diverse clinical settings throughout my graduate school years. My past experience has been diverse and I have provided psychotherapy to multiply disadvantaged adults, and to children and adolescents in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I have worked with male prisoners, with the gay community, the elderly and the chronically ill. My clinical training and experience has encompassed short and long term psychotherapy, group and couples psychotherapy, consultation to organizations, training in mediation, pre-post test certification in HIV counseling, object relations theory, existential psychotherapy, forensic evaluations, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. I have also taught and supervised graduate students. My postdoctoral training began with a fellowship at Boston University’s Danielsen Institute and ended at Health Psychology Associates. I am a member of the Massachusetts Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.
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