Adult Psychotherapy &

Consultatation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a nutshell, I begin with this assumption about anyone seeking help: that they’ve tried the best they can with what they know, but—of course—there are things they don’t know (including about themselves), and if those areas can be brought to further awareness, and worked through in some meaningful way, that new possibilities emerge. Along those lines, my job, then, is largely to help people to know more, most of all, about themselves and about their ways of relating (both to one's self and to others, the two often being intimately related). There is much that we can never control as human beings, and that will never change. But one thing we can invest in is to try to tap into ever larger conceptions and awareness of our experience— which is the one common denominator wherever we go, and whatever we do. Doing so can widen and empower what is still possible, and allow for mourning of what may not be. Much of this work is attuning emotionally and intuitively to your experience—and this is a major bedrock of my approach, setting the stage for new connections and growth, from the inside out.

Furthermore, although the specific reasons for why someone seeks out therapy are as varied as individuals themselves (and as such, present an infinite variety), I do believe that there are some common threads amongst anyone seeking this form of help. One such common thread, I assume, is that a person has often found themselves trying to grow psychologically in some way, and thus far has not been able to manage it alone, or with the usual systems of support and guidance they’ve sought out up until now (including, perhaps, other forms of therapy). Many people make it to the office of a therapist or analyst knowing on some level that something is “off”, that there is pain and suffering of some kind that perhaps seems unremitting or at least that doesn’t seem to be transforming into something useful, and are often a bit (or much more than a bit) at a loss of what to do next. By my view and that of contemporary psychoanalytic thought, what often blocks a person from healing and growing is, indeed, that which evades one's usual consciousness; that which is on the fringes of, or sometimes completely outside of, standard and well-worn routes of thinking and feeling. This, in itself, can feel disturbing to recognize, but also potentially liberating. What may be needed is the help of someone well-trained to help people break out of such ruts, habits of mind, and repetitions to find new (and sometimes, renewed) paths towards greater aliveness, well-being, and connectedness. In my experience, this involves an ongoing and earnest commitment and partnership on behalf of therapist and patient, and can be the catalyst to an ongoing transformation that can potentially go far beyond symptom relief or mere passing comfort, and into the territory of that which could be aptly be called "life-changing".

• Grief and loss
• Anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Depression
• Trauma & PTSD
• Work/life balance
• Moral injury
• Adjustment issues
• Identity issues
• Obsessions and compulsions (including OCD)
• Meaning of life issues
• Damaging habits (including some addictive behaviors)
• Somatization issues
• Narcissism

I’m fully licensed in Washington State to conduct psychotherapy, with many thousands of hours of professional experience, and currently do so out of my private office in Seattle, Washington. My graduate training was completed at the University Of Chicago, where in addition to my degree I also earned two additional program of study certificates. During that time I completed my field work in a community mental health clinic, which gave me invaluable experience in working with a highly diverse, urban population frequently suffering with multiple bio-psycho-social stressors, and often-times quite severe mental and emotional suffering, including the effects of particularly complex childhood and adult trauma histories. From my graduate degree I was accepted into a full-time fellowship at the VA Puget Sound working with Veterans from multiple combat eras, providing individual and group psychotherapy, care coordination, and program development along with cohort-based and immersive continuing education as part of an inter-professional team. Once again, my work centered around helping people with their suffering, and seeing what still may be possible yet in the midst of sometimes great life struggles. From that fellowship I was then hired full-time as a permanent employee, carrying on much of that work in a more long-term role, and continuing to develop experience with another highly diverse population, including helping patients who had served in combat tours, and very often, were also struggling with effects of difficult early beginnings in their life. Wishing to have greater control of my work, and to serve a smaller number of people but at greater depth, I went from the VA hospital into private practice, which is what I now do full-time, and which I plan to do for the remainder of my career. Many of my current patients are working professionals, parents (including new fathers), and students. I also continue to work with military Veterans and their families. My patients vary with regard to age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, differing abilities, and other aspects of identity and life experience.

Analytic candidate, Northwest Psychoanalytic Society & Institute (NPSI)

Master's Of Arts (MSW), University Of Chicago

Credential of Readiness, HBX- Harvard Business School

Fellowship, Centers For Excellence In Substance Abuse Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound

Evidence Based Practice Program of Study, University of Chicago

Advanced Training for Addictions Counselors Program of Study, University Of Chicago

Bachelors of Arts (BA), University Of Colorado

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) , # LW60654067

I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the State Of Washington, which is the highest level of licensure granted in the state to social workers (requires over 4000 hours of supervised experience, in addition to other requirements). I participate in ongoing expert consultation to continually evolve my work.

My standard fee for individual therapy is $140 per 50 minute session. I offer a limited number of sliding scale slots for those who cannot afford my full fee. Consultation fees are determined based on the scope of the work involved. If you have questions about this, I'd be glad to discuss my fees and billing practices further.

To further protect your privacy and to solidify the partnership as being one between you and I, I have chosen to not contract directly with insurance. This means that we work out a plan together, and you pay me directly each month. Depending on your insurance and your preferences therein, your plan may allow for you to submit receipts for out of network coverage, in which case your insurance may reimburse you directly for some of the costs. These details are further laid out in my consent form, and we can also discuss this further if you wish.