What do you think is the biggest barrier today for people seeking care?
In our current society, I think there is such an emphasis on busying ourselves, with productivity being the measure of our identity. People are getting burnt out and depression and anxiety can result, as well as many other disorders. We strive to fix it ourselves, and very typically there is an unconscious negative message about what it means if we ask for help. Very commonly I hear that it means"I am weak". I tell my clients that I believe that there is nothing further from the truth, that it takes a very strong person to admit that they need help, and to take the step to seek counseling!
What does a first session with you look like?
I believe it is so important to be open and direct with my clients from the very beginning. I explain that the primary emphasis in the first session is to do an evaluation, where I will be gathering information, and putting the information together to formulate a plan for treatment. It is also a time where I might be setting some short term goals and making some recommendations. Lastly, and most importantly, I make sure that I emphasize that the person who is coming to me in that initial session should be "interviewing" me as much as I am "interviewing" them. I emphasize that there should be some kind of professional connection that starts in that very first session, in order for change to take place. I always ask my clients at the end of the initial session, "how do they feel about this so far"? I feel that it is so important from the very beginning to balance the role of being supportive, but educating a person with new skills and awareness.
What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
I treat the individual holistically, integrating the mind/body/spirit through behavioral methods and techniques. Although I believe that the therapeutic environment needs to feel safe and supportive, I also combine this with giving one new skills that can allow a person to be more self-aware and hence make new choices. This can allow a person to reprogram old beliefs that they were unaware of, and create new healthier messages in the present. As a result, this can allow for more positive feelings and behavior.
Specialties
Addiction
Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.
Codependency
Involves a person sacrificing their needs to meet the needs of others. Their thoughts and actions center on a significant other, spouse, friend, or relative. Becomes an issue when relationships are unbalanced and unhealthy.
Eating disorders
Distressing or complicated relationship with food that can lead to isolation, fear, and death. Could manifest as eating too much or too little and generally stems from someone’s complicated relationships with food or their body.
Spirituality & religion based issues
Spirituality and religion, to a great extent, shape our moral principles, beliefs, and values. They have a role in shaping our behavior and in our relationships. Issues may include questioning one’s faith, loss of faith, struggling to find meaning, and living a life incongruent with one’s belief.
Trauma
Trauma is the result of experiencing a perceived, extremely distressful event. Although the stress threshold for each person differs, meaning that each person considers and experiences trauma differently, it is an event that tops one’s threshold. It exceeds one’s ability to cope or emotionally process. Symptoms may include shock, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, feeling disconnected, mood swings, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
Anger management
It's normal to experience anger at times, but for some, it becomes so frequent, intense, or difficult to control that it negatively affects their life. Anger management is a structured therapeutic approach toward reducing one’s anger to a point where more appropriate coping and/or conflict management skills are used. Beliefs and thoughts leading toward anger outbursts are explored while healthy coping and interpersonal skills are put into practice.
Fees
$125
First Session
$130
Couples Therapy
$125
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Couples Session
Family Session
Group Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Marriage and Family Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Training / Certifications
DBT, was a certified addiction therapist for 13 years, am currently a certified biblical counselor
Education
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University
MS In Counseling Education from Illinois State University
BS in Psychology from University of Illinois
Work History
I've worked in all levels of addiction treatment, in hospitals, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient programs and community mental health. I went into private practice in 1992, and then went on to develop 2 of my own private practices afterwards.
Location
27499 Riverview Center Blvd, Bonita Springs, 34134, FL