I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the states of Oregon (T1004) and California (81035)
My training and my personal approach to therapy is based on a systems perspective, that is, I view people as part of a greater system, not as an individual in a vacuum. If a couple or family is facing difficulties, I believe it is more effective to work with the couple or family as a whole, rather than trying to effect change in the system by working with a single member. Furthermore, I generally use a systemic model called Emotionally-Focused Therapy. This type of therapy has been scientifically validated over the last 20 years, and focuses on attachment and emotions. I am a trained Emotionally-Focused Therapist. I also employ elements of many other effective systemic models.
My clinical specialties include divorce and remarriage, marital conflict, intimacy, trust, infertility, depression, and bereavement. I also have significant experience with adolescents, sexual dysfunction, adoption, foster care, attachment issues, anxiety, high conflict couples, and infidelity. I have received several trainings through the years which include, but are not limited to: PREPARE/ENRICH relationship assessment, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
After our initial contact via telephone or email, you will receive an email with a link to fill out the initial intake forms for your first session.
The first session typically consists of you sharing your story with me and telling me why you are seeking counseling services. I will ask several questions in order to better get to know you and your goals for therapy. Many people think therapy can be a quick fix for fairly deep issues, so I want to caution you that solutions can often take time. Be patient with yourself, your partner and your family.
My hope is that you will experience therapy to be a safe environment where you feel comfortable to explore all the things contributing to why you are seeking counseling in the first place. I am a transparent person and therapist which means I am willing to be as open as possible about the therapeutic process and the facilitation of change. I find empowering clients to make decisions about therapy and the entire process is an important part of feeling safe with me as a therapist.
While the number of sessions varies significantly based on a number of factors, most clients complete treatment in 8-12 sessions. Some clients may need just a few sessions to address a minor concern or some clients may come in after several years of significant personal struggles, so it varies from person to person. Many people begin to experience positive outcomes of therapy within the first 3-6 sessions.
Please contact me for my current rates. I do not accept insurance at this time. Many clients find they can get reimbursed themselves through their insurance company and I am happy to provide you with the necessary receipts so you can submit them for the services. I recommend calling your insurance company before our first session and finding out how that process can work for you. You can also choose not to go through your insurance company at all and pay the fee for services yourself.
I accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, as well as cash. I do not accept personal checks.