My Approach

Clients:

Adult Therapy
Child and Adolescent Therapy
Couples Counseling
Family Therapy

I am experienced working with all age groups. I see adults as individuals or in couples, as well as children, adolescents and their families.

Therapy with children and adolescents will often require parent involvement of some sort depending on the age. A younger child will require more parent involvement than an older child or adolescent.

A family can consist of as little as two members. It can be biological or step family.

My approach is client centered —- meeting you in a caring and non intrusive manner. I believe that developing a therapeutic relationship is essential to the therapy process.

My approach is eclectic which allows me to employ my knowledge base and your input to develop a treatment plan that is most effective.

At the initial session, after present concerns are discussed, a detailed, confidential history is taken. Information obtained from your family dynamics, relationships, and chronological events help me to understand you and to determine your individual needs.

Interpersonal

This approach focuses on the personality and how we interact with others. Learning to identity your personality traits is the beginning to understanding perceptions and judgments.

Cognitive

This approach is used to help you learn to understand how thoughts can impact moods and behavior. Learning the difference between positive thoughts and negative ones help you develop an awareness of your own thought process. In this approach you can learn ways to still the mind and release negative thoughts. The focus is on the current life situations and the here and now.

Family Systems

The family is the basis of our learning. Exploring your roots and extended family can enable you to better understand your own patterns and beliefs. Unresolved issues with parents, siblings and other family members can be talked about confidentially in the therapy setting. A genogram can be constructed to visualize the family tree – placing all members even those deceased or estranged.

Psychodynamic

This approach is insight directed. Uncovering feelings that have been stored in the unconscious and bring them into conscious awareness develops insight. Exploring childhood experiences and the layers of feelings, connecting with your inner child, remembering and interpreting dreams are a few of the methods used in this approach.

Art Therapy

Art Therapy is a non-verbal approach to therapy. Using art as a means to express feelings and to access the subconscious. Your own interpretation of the artwork offers an opportunity to release emotions and develop awareness of feelings.

Mediums such as oil pastel, colored pencils, watercolor, markers and crayons are used to develop works of art. No formal knowledge of drawing or painting is needed because the process of making art is the focus not the product.

As humans we are given the ability to use tools to create pictures or objects. Often this ability is shadowed by the judgments we have received or judgments we give ourselves. It is the role of the art therapy process to bring these judgments to light and to help us learn to recognize our negative thoughts.

Call me at:

412 – 889 – 8737

Visit me at:
615 Washington Rd, Suite TL10
Pittsburgh PA 15228

All forms filled out are sent to my personal e-mail. I promise. You will never receive spam, or any other unwanted mail.