Services
Psychotherapy
Beginning therapy, beginning anything new, is never easy, especially when we have never done it before. Although we may be suffering, our human experience tells us that the known is always going to be more comfortable than the unknown. When you start thinking about making that first contact with a therapist, you’re already beginning to change. Sometimes when we begin to change, we notice others reacting to our changes and we ourselves may feel a bit worse. That’s normal. I will be here to walk with you on the path of this process, developing a pace that is right for you as we work together.
Training
For many years I worked as a harm reduction therapist in places as varied as the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco and in academia in my role as a program director and professor in a master’s program in Counseling and Forensic Psychology. I have deep knowledge of the principles of harm reduction and how to apply them to a variety of behaviors and contexts. I am also well-versed in the principles of motivational interviewing, a model for having more goal-directed conversations with individuals who are ambivalent about making change. One of my specific areas of interest includes how we as helpers respond to the people we work with who engage in more extreme behavior such as chaotic drug and alcohol use and other self-harming behaviors. I can provide you with a framework for becoming more aware of your responses to your clientele and how such awareness can inform your understanding of your client(s) and yourself in your work.
Consultation
I offer consultation to therapists, psychologists, and managers who seek an extra pair of eyes and ears to continue developing their clinical or managerial skills. During consultation, I pay special attention to the relational system that you and your client(s) or employees have built and how best to influence the system to achieve the goals that you and your clients want to reach. I draw upon my knowledge of depth-oriented dynamics, as well as my understanding of how systems develop and transform, to support you in developing a sturdier roadmap that can provide you with a greater sense of satisfaction in your work.
