About My Practice
I am a clinical psychologist working with families, children, and adults. I am a short term therapist, meaning that I work with people to define a specific set of goals and generally set a limit of 16 sessions or less to reach those goals.
LGBT
People do not come in one type. They have different religions and races which must be respected. They do not fall into a binary of Black and White, gay and straight. I work with a gender affirmative model and a multicultural approach. I work with adolescents and adults of all cultures, genders, races, and sexual orientations.
I am a member of the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Texas Equality, and Division 44 (Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity) of the American Psychology Association and a member of WPATH.
Adolescents
Adolescents are usually hesitant and nervous about coming to therapy. Often therapy is not their idea, but something their parents have decided for them. Because of this, gaining the teenager’s trust (though always important in therapy) is critical. Therefore, when I see adolescents I am particularly careful to respect their privacy. What this means for parents is that, after the first session, I will not see the parent without the child being present as well. I make this very clear at the start of therapy, and have both parent and child sign a contract stating this, as well as outlining my expectation that parents may not look over their child’s therapy records without the express permission of the child. While some parents may at first be surprised by this, most quickly come to understand that such steps help ensure the adolescent feels free to talk about what they may not otherwise. Without such trust, therapy with teenagers is rarely effective, and effective therapy is what everyone is working for. Of course, situations in which the child’s safety is imminently threatened cannot be kept secret, and this, too, is outlined at the beginning of therapy.
Women
I have always enjoyed, and have a special interest in, working with women. Women are often the caretakers and the backbone of their family, and at times this can become a burden. Issues of childbirth, single parenthood, harassment, bullying in the workplace and martial problems are just a few of the issues of which so many women have to deal. Women tend to be multi-taskers, which also leads to anxiety and stress.
In my practice I work with women individually and as part of marital couples. I help women who are dealing with major transitions in their life. These transitions can consist of issues such as change in career, marital status, divorce, parenthood or empty nest. These women have the power to heal themselves.
Children
Having extensive experience in play therapy,
I now work with children as young as 8. Play therapy is an approach that allows children to work out their fears and resolve their anxieties in a safe environment through the natural medium of play. I work with children to give them a language for what they are feeling and work on new ways of dealing with those feelings. This is often a very effective treatment for children with depression, anxiety, school phobias, or trauma. However, sometimes children demonstrate acting out behaviors at home or in the classroom. Some children I see are dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorders, Mood Disorders, or other behaviors resulting in temper outbursts or explosive behavior. In these cases I can provide parent education. I never see any child without working with the parent as well. I see the parents alone before each session with their child, or alternate sessions between parent and child. With older children and adolescents I sometimes do family therapy. I tailor my approach to the age of the child as well as needs of the child and the family.
