Treatment Details

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

~James Baldwin

I can help individuals experiencing:

Anxiety

Common symptoms in adults and adolescents:

~Are you plagued with frequent ongoing worries you can not seem to let go of?

~Find it difficult to shake a sense of foreboding or impending doom?

~Do you suffer from muscle tension, chronic digestive issues, or headaches?

~Have difficulty shutting your thoughts down to fall asleep at night?

~Do you avoid certain situations because of distressing feelings or fear?

~Are you uncomfortable in social situations and worry about what others are thinking of you?

~Have you suffered episodes of rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, shaking or feeling out of control?

~Do you experience intense fear or avoidance of specific things or places?

~Are you fearful of social situations or large groups?

~Do you engage in repetitive and driven behaviors to feel relief from thoughts of something bad occurring?

If you or your adolescent are experiencing any of the above you are not alone. Anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition affecting 18.1% of adults and 25.1% of adolescents in the United States every year. While some amount of anxiety is normal in response to life stressors or events, chronic anxiety, avoidance of life tasks or situations or negative changes to one’s ability to function effectively at home, work, school or in relationships is not. Clinical anxiety usually develops from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. Anxiety is highly treatable although the length of time needed for improvement varies based on diagnosis and the individual. With consistent treatment, however, many people experience meaningful symptom relief and improvement in their quality of life.

Common symptoms in children:

~They may appear shy or take awhile to warm up to new situations.

~They might exhibit tearfulness or tantrums in response to certain situations.

~Sleep issues, frequent nightmares, and re-emergence of younger behaviors can occur.

~A child may complain of frequent physical illness or ailments.

~School refusal or tearfulness in response to going to school may also occur.

~Children may insist on doing things a certain way all the time and have great difficulty in response to change.

~They may also seek frequent reassurance and approval from adults or meltdown if they do not do things “perfectly”.

~Earlier developmental challenges may reappear like bed wetting, potty accidents or baby talk.

Anxiety affects 1 in 8 children in the United States. Research has shown that children with untreated anxiety are at greater risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in later substance abuse. Therapy can help a child understand their feelings and develop ways to reduce their distress while also learning healthy coping skills that they can continue to utilize throughout their life.

Depression

Common symptoms in adults:

~Do you feel sad or down most days?

~Feel unmotivated, fatigued or lack energy?

~Find yourself feeling frequently irritable or agitated?

~Have you lost interest in things you used to enjoy doing?

~Are you having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much?

~Have you experienced significant changes in weight or eating habits?

`~Do you feel hopeless about the future or helpless in the present?

~Have you had thoughts of death or suicide?

Common symptoms in children and adolescents:

~Children may seem chronically sad, cry easily, express hopelessness or appear withdrawn

~They may complain suddenly decide to quit a previously enjoyed activity, hobby or sport or complain of boredom with previously enjoyed activities.

~They may seem frequently irritable, sullen or even lash out verbally and physically with others

~Children can express worries, appear tense or panicky or seek frequent reassurance from adults.

~They may make frequent negative self statements or make pessimistic comments about life or the future.

~They may have difficulty concentrating or remembering which often shows up as decreased academic performance in school.

~Children may obsess over perceived faults and failures or declare themselves worthless.

~They can show disturbances and changes in sleep habits, eating and weight.

~They may complain of frequent physical pains or ailments.

~They may express feelings of social rejection or isolation.

Depression affects 19.4 million American adults and 1.9 million children/adolescents every year and is the leading cause of disability among individuals 15-44 years old. Depression is both a brain disorder and a state of mind. It is more than just having a down day or occasional sadness in response to particular life events. Depression is a serious illness that can affect every area of an individuals life including work, school, relationships and physical health.

There is hope! 80% of individuals diagnosed with depression show an improvement in symptoms and a return to previous levels of functioning. The choice of treatment depends on the pattern, severity, persistence of depressive symptoms and the history of the illness. As with many illnesses, early treatment is more effective and helps prevent the likelihood of serious recurrences.

You do not have to suffer, call now and begin your journey towards a brighter tomorrow.

Grief

Common symptoms in adults:

~Do you have trouble accepting the loss really happened?

~Are you feeling hopeless and sad, rr feel like you have nothing to give others?

~Do you feel helpless?

~Are you engaging in self-blame or feeling regretful about things you did or didn’t do?

~Are you feeling impatient and easily frustrated?

~Do you feel powerless, useless or worthless?

~Have you been isolating yourself from others?

~Are you feeling alone, lost or empty?

~Do feel sad, unhappy, or numb?

~Do you feel confused or unsure?

~Are you having trouble concentrating, remembering things or making decisions?

~Are you constantly thinking about the loss?

~Are you experiencing changes in sleep, appetite or weight?

~Are you engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as drinking too much, using drugs or abusing prescription medication?

~Do you feel angry, irritable or find yourself lashing out at others?

~Have you stopped caring about things like your own health, taking care of children, work or financial responsibilities?

Grief is a normal, natural and painful emotional reaction to loss. It is an unavoidable process that must be experienced on the path to healing. While grief may never completely go away the intense pain can lessen over time. Grieving generally occurs in stages that an individual may drift in and out of for an indefinite period of time. There is no set timeline and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief often feels like a very isolated and lonely experience. Having a safe and reassuring space to talk about your loss can often help you feel more connected and can even help lessen the time it takes for the pain to become less intense and allow you to feel ready to face a new life that incorporates your loss.

Common symptoms in children and adolescents:

~Children may exhibit increased sadness and tearfulness.

~Younger children may look for the person who died.

~Younger children may become clingy and distressed at separation, older children may desire increased closeness and time with others

~Children may become fearful for their safety or the safety of others.

~They may exhibit increased irritability, tantrums, anger or aggressive behaviors.

~They can become anxious, easily startled, or exhibit increased fears.

~Children may withdraw, self isolate, or show lack of emotional response.

~Physical complaints are common.

~Children may blame themselves for the death.

~They may report increased bad dreams or exhibit sleep disturbances.

~Older children may try hard to please adults and not worry them. This can include taking on more responsibilities.

~Older children may experience stronger emotional reactions and increased sensitivity to criticism.

~Children may seem preoccupied with the loss and have a need to talk about it excessively.

~Concentration problems, forgetfulness and changes in academic performance are common.

~Children may become preoccupied with death or dying.

~They may report dreaming of the loved one, sensing their presence or talking to them.

~Children can become more defiant and begin exhibiting behavioral problems.

~Older children may engage in risk taking behaviors such as drinking, drugs, sex, reckless driving or stealing.

Symptoms of grief in children and adolescents can vary greatly depending on many factors including age, gender, developmental stage, personality, support, how others around them are grieving, and relationship to the person who died. Children tend to grieve in bursts and seek comfort from normal routines and activities. Grieving children need support, attention and reassurance. It is not uncommon for grief to reappear during different stages in a child’s life. Therapy provides a safe place to process and understand their grief while teaching them coping strategies to help comfort and heal.

Trauma

Trauma can be defined as any experience or event that causes deeply disturbing or distressing emotional reactions. Trauma can occur both physically and emotionally and occur as a single incident or occur repetitively over many years. It is a subjective experience that every individual processes differently based on a variety of factors including prior life experiences, severity and duration of the trauma, support, and resiliency. Anyone who experiences trauma can be expected to exhibit emotional reactions, however, not everyone will end up traumatized and experience a trauma disorder. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is diagnosed when an individual continues to exhibit symptoms beyond one month after the traumatic event. However, symptoms may not appear until several months or years later.

Symptoms of PTSD in adults and children:

~involuntary, intrusive and distressing memories of the trauma (in children this includes repetitive play that involves the trauma)

~recurrent distressing dreams about the trauma or about feelings associated with the trauma (in children it may be nightmares without remembered content)

~flashbacks in which the individual feels or acts as if the trauma event is reoccurring

~Intense or prolonged distressing emotional reaction to exposure to any internal or external trigger that symbolizes or resembles the trauma

~physiological (increased heart rate, sweating, breathing changes, etc.) in response to reminders of the trauma

~inability to remember an important aspect of the trauma

~persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others or the world

~persistent and distorted blame of self or others about the cause or the effects of the trauma

~persistent feelings of fear, anger, guilt, shame or horror

~significant decrease in interest or participation in previously enjoyed activities

~feelings of detachment or disconnect from others

~persistent inability to experience positive emotions

~irritability or aggressive behavior

~reckless or self-destructive behaviors

~over awareness of surroundings

~problems with concentration and decision making

~sleep disturbances

While not everyone who has experienced trauma will be diagnosed with PTSD, trauma can still have pervasive underlying affects on an individual’s feelings, emotions, coping style, personality and relationships. The more severe, chronic and younger the trauma happens the higher the likelihood of negative affects. Trauma experienced in early childhood can have significant impact on a child’s developing brain and impact the actual neurological wiring process. This can result in developmental issues, behavioral problems, learning problems, poor adaptive skills, mood issues, and impaired relationships that without intervention can persist throughout their lifespan. The earlier the intervention the better but it is not uncommon for me to see adults for therapy who need to go back and process early trauma in order to resolve lifelong symptoms and experience healing.

Behavioral Problems

Parenting is the hardest yet most rewarding endeavor one can ever face. Every child is an individual with a unique combination of genetics, personality and life experiences. Parents often find that they must be a slightly different parent for each one of their children which is a challenge given a child does not come with a manual for what they need. And let’s face it, children will misbehave, it is part of the learning and growing process of childhood. So how do you know when your child may be exhibiting a behavioral issue that is more than typical childhood behavior? And how do you know how to respond in a way that will be effective and not escalate the problem further? I work with parents to understand their child’s behavior, the underlying reasons and what is reinforcing it. I teach strategies for responses to decrease maladaptive behaviors and increase self-control. I work with children to help them understand their own behavior, develop more effective ways of getting their needs met, and improve coping skills with the goal of improving functioning, increasing self-esteem and creating more positive interactions.

Most childhood behavioral concerns fall into one of the categories below. Many of the behaviors within these categories can be normal if they are isolated or short lived and do not result in impaired functioning. A more serious issue may be present if the behaviors occur with frequency, are significant enough to affect a child’s school performance, result in a decline in physical well being or negatively affect relationships.

Inattention

difficulty focusing on and completing

easily distracted

unable to follow instructions without repetition

daydreaming

does not seem to be listening to or hearing what you are saying

takes longer to complete tasks than expected

homework struggles

Disruptive Behaviors

difficulty sitting still, fidgety

constantly needs to be on the go

requires a high level of supervision

does things without thinking first

frequently climbing, spinning, or being upside down

moves quickly from one activity to another without completing first task

Defiance

frequently argumentative

directly refusing to comply with adult requests

passively (just not doing it) defying adult requests

deliberately annoying others

consistently blames others

refuses to accept responsibility for own behaviors

Anger/Aggression

easily agitated or irritated

loses temper frequently

often angry or resentful

prolonged or very intense tantrums

threatening others

verbal or physical aggression

Antisocial Behaviors

(the presence of these behaviors are more serious indicators of a disorder that would require intervention)

vindictive behaviors

stealing

intentional fire-setting

deliberate cruelty to others or animals

lack of remorse or empathy for others

use of a weapon against someone

vandalism or destruction of property

lying to con others

Life Transitions

The only constant in life is change, expected, unexpected, good and bad, change is unavoidable. Big or small, chosen or forced, change disrupts our routine and requires us to adapt. Change itself is an external event it is something that happens to us, while transition is an internal one that involves the emotional and cognitive adjustment to change. Transition shifts how we see, move through and understand our world. While change generally occurs quickly, transition is a slower process that progresses through stages. Change requires us to transition out of our comfort zone and into the unknown. We must let go of the familiar, face uncertainty and experience the loss of a person, place, role or self identity. For many this process can evoke layers of emotion including fear, excitement, apprehension, anger, confusion, frustration, sadness and even grief. If these emotions become overwhelming or if the change is unwanted, an individual can become resistant or struggle to transition in a way that leads to a positive healthy outcome. Successfully moving through a life transition involves acknowledging and expressing feelings in a healthy way, accepting and letting go of what is lost, utilizing effective coping and stress management skills, identifying and focusing on the potential positives of the change, and having patience with the transition process. Therapy is a safe and supportive space to help you navigate life transitions when you are struggling to adjust. Change does not have to be negative! It provides you with an opportunity for self growth and to reassess the direction your life is taking. We can work together to help you move forward with intention, to harness the potential positives of change and direct your life in the direction you want to go.

Self Esteem Issues

Perhaps nothing can affect our life more then the attitude we have about our own self-worth. The way we think about and see ourselves forms our self-concept. It is the answer to the question “Who am I?”. It is knowing about one’s own tendencies, thoughts, preferences and habits, hobbies, skills, and areas of strength and weakness. How we feel about how we see ourselves, the overall positive or negative attitude we have about our value forms our self-esteem. Our self-concept tends to be pretty stable over time, while our self-esteem can fluctuate in response to both internal and external influences. Self-esteem can profoundly affect our lives in numerous ways including mental health, relationships, and academic and professional success. It heavily influences our choices and decisions, what we believe we are capable of achieving, our motivation to take care of ourselves, and even what we believe we are worthy of having. Low self-esteem can result in health issues, falling short of our potential, and remaining in relationships that are unhealthy or abusive.

Common signs that you may be struggling with low self-esteem include:

~People pleasing

~Being easily angered or irritated

~Feeling your opinion isn’t important

~Hating yourself

~Believing what you do is never good enough

~Being highly sensitive to others opinions

~Feeling like the world is unsafe

~Comparing yourself with others and often you come in second best

~Doubting your decisions

~Frequently experiencing the emotions of sadness and worthlessness

~Unstable or short lived relationships

~Avoiding risks or trying new things

~Engaging in addictive avoidance behaviors

~Struggling with confidence

~Have difficulty telling others no or setting healthy boundaries

~Giving more attention to your weaknesses

~Often feeling unsure of who you are

~Feeling negative experiences as all consuming

~Finding it difficult to ask for your needs to be met

~Holding a pessimistic or negative outlook on life

~Doubting your abilities or chances of success

~Frequently experience negative emotions, such as fear, anxiety or depression

The fact that self-esteem fluctuates means that it is also malleable. Numerous studies have demonstrated that self-esteem can be enhanced and improved. In therapy you are able to share your thoughts and feelings without judgement, experience acceptance and unconditional positive regard, understand what contributed to your negative self view and challenge and reframe these beliefs, learn how to stop your inner critic from holding you back and experience a greater sense of self-acceptance and self-worth.

Relationship Issues

Let’s face it despite what romantic novels, movies and fairy tales tell us, no relationship is perfect or without bumps on that road to Happily Ever After. In fact Happily Ever After does not exist without a commitment to navigating and overcoming relationship pitfalls.

If you are in a relationship: Are you feeling like your partner doesn’t listen to you? Do you feel disconnected, unappreciated or emotionally alone? Are you easily irritated or frequently angry with your partner? Do you feel resentful? Do you constantly fight and can’t seem to find resolution? Do you love your partner but are questioning if this is the right relationship for you?

Many relationship issues develop due to misperceptions and poor communication. At other times the communication is good but the message is toxic. Therapy can help you learn new ways of relating to each other, develop more effective ways to resolve conflict and problematic patterns and gain the skills to tackle future problems successfully. Do not make the mistake of waiting until your relationship problems become ingrained, the earlier you seek help the better the prognosis for improvement!

If you are single: Are you wondering why you keep attracting the same person over and over again? Do you tend to give up yourself and your life when you become involved in a serious relationship? Do you settle for relationships you know are not healthy for you? Do you rush into relationships to avoid being alone?

Therapy can help you understand and resolve unhealthy relationship patterns, learn how to set healthy boundaries with others, resolve common relationship problems more effectively, and open yourself up to healthier and more fulfilling relationships.

Change your life

Enjoy it to its fullest.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a solution oriented therapy that focuses on targeting specific current challenges. The process involves improving dysfunctional emotions and behaviors by identifying and challenging distorted thoughts and perceptions. CBT can be effectively used with all ages in treating a wide variety of issues both in person and online.
Dilectical Behavior Therapy
DBT is a specific form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses on helping individuals regulate and cope with intense emotional responses, improve interpersonal relationships and eliminate unhealthy behaviors. It is used to treat a variety of emotional concerns but is particularly effective with suicidal thoughts, borderline personality traits and self injurious behaviors.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the natural language and learning processes of children ages 3-12 years of age. Play therapy provides a safe space where the therapist can understand the child’s inner world and provide an opportunity to heal through corrective experiences. The child is able to express distressing emotions, learn more adaptive behaviors, resolve inner conflicts, develop healthy coping skills and transform dysfunctional thoughts.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a treatment intervention that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that result from disturbing life experiences. It involves reprocessing traumatic memories at a neurological level to provide emotional relief, transform negative self beliefs and reduce physical symptoms. Although primarily used in the treatment of trauma, EMDR can also be effective in treating other emotional concerns as well.

Integrative Therapy
Integrative therapy is not a technique in itself but rather an approach to therapy that believes every individual has multiple needs and no one therapeutic technique is sufficient. There is a focus on integrating techniques to treat the whole person, mind, body and spirit and on the quality of the therapeutic relationship versus one particular therapeutic theory.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT is a therapeutic approach that is based on the belief that it is ineffective to try to control, deny or suppress negative or painful emotions as this only leads to more distress. Instead the focus is on accepting these feelings and learning that they do not have to impede changes in behavior. ACT teaches alternate ways to change thinking so you can engage in more confident, positive behaviors which ultimately change your emotional state.
Trauma Based Therapy
Trauma based therapy focuses on the impact that adverse experiences can have on a child or adolescent’s thinking, mood, feelings, behaviors, physical health and interpersonal relationships. The goal is to teach skills and strategies to better understand, cope with, and process emotions and memories tied to traumatic experiences, to enable your child to achieve a healthier and more adaptive meaning of their experience.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is an important skill learned in therapy that allows you to become fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and environment in the present moment without criticism and judgement. It can help reduce stress, promote balance, reduce anxiety, depression and emotional distress, and create more joy and fulfillment in life experiences.

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Be a Success Story.

We can work together to...

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

~James Baldwin

I can help individuals experiencing:

Anxiety

Common symptoms in adults and adolescents:

Common symptoms in children:

Depression

Common symptoms in adults:

Common symptoms in children and adolescents:

Grief

Common symptoms in adults:

Common symptoms in children and adolescents:

Trauma

Symptoms of PTSD in adults and children:

Behavioral Problems

Life Transitions

Self Esteem Issues

Relationship Issues

Change your life

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Dilectical Behavior Therapy

Play Therapy

EMDR

Integrative Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Trauma Based Therapy

Mindfulness

Be a Success Story.

* Improve mood and increase enjoyment in life

* Develop the ability to set healthy boundaries to avoid feeling resentful or taken advantage of

* Increase vulnerability and intimacy in relationships without fear

* Break unhealthy behavior patterns

* Develop assertiveness skills both personally and professionally

* Learn to live more fully in the present and let go of regrets about the past or worries about the future

*Learn how to communication more effectively and resolve conflict in relationships

*Help your child reduce emotional distress and improve behavior

* Embrace who you are and feel more confident

* Develop healthier and more effective coping and stress management skills

* Heal past traumas and reduce the ongoing influence on your life and relationships

* Resolve and let go of feelings of shame, guilt and blame

* Find a greater balance in your life

* Develop better time management and decision making skills

* Improve family relationships

*Adjust to life transitions in a positive way that promotes self growth and greater life fullfillment.