I imagine if you are looking at this page, you've come to a point in your life where you’re looking for things to change and your life to be easier. You may have been in therapy before and found it to be less than successful. Or maybe you’ve been happy in therapy in the past and are looking to begin again. You may have received many and sometimes contradictory diagnoses. You may question why you should go back to therapy to talk to somebody when you could just as easily talk to your hairdresser, a bartender or a friend. Or maybe this is your first time looking for help.
I believe that good therapy can help make peoples’ lives better—whether that means coping better with stress, life transitions, challenges in relationships or traumas in the past or present. I have seen it work for many people, couples and families over the years. I became a clinical psychologist because I wanted to help people live happier, more successful lives. While I have many years of experience, research and training, what I hear most often from new clients is that they appreciated my informality, warmth and openness. The relationship between the therapist and the client is what really makes therapy work. My clients report that they find me to be empathetic, committed and real. My job is to listen but I am not passive—I am with you to help you and give suggestions, inspiration, direction and share the journey.
I have experience in a broad range of common and rare psychological conditions and have seen adolescents and adults from every imaginable profession and background. I am comfortable treating couples, adolescents and adults. I specialize in anxiety disorders including trauma; mood disorders; personality disorders and couples work. I also see individuals with other disorders including but not limited to depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and somatoform disorders. I also see people who may not be sure whether they have a formal diagnosis but just need some help getting through life's ups and downs.
I am a clinical psychologist, licensed in Maine since 1996. I have a masters and doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. I have many years of rigorous research-based and theoretically-oriented training, which you can see more about on my curriculum vitae (see below). My theoretical orientation is a mixture of psychodynamic theory and behavioral techniques. I firmly believe that the fundamental curative aspect of therapy is the therapeutic relationship. I have found exposure-based therapy to be exceptionally effective in treating anxiety disorders including PTSD. I have years of training in flooding and implosive techniques. I will occasionally utilize cognitive-behavior techniques (CBT) in therapy.
In addition to individual, couples and group psychotherapy, I also offer psychological assessment, psychological testing, and supervision. I am also the director of the Center for Advanced Professional Education, an organization that provides continuing education for mental health professionals. I consult on continuing education for organizations including Macmillan Learning based in New York City.
Click here if you would like to download a copy of my vita or click here if you would like to look at it online.
