Services
Nobody is born knowing how to manage all the challenges life puts in front of us, especially these days. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed, scared, and confused. That's when you can benefit from extra support and guidance, someone who will really listen, help you figure out your priorities, and teach you the skills to navigate your own journey.
That's what I do. In a nonjudgmental, compassionate, and fun environment, I offer a personalized approach tailored to your individual situation. Together, we can explore the thoughts and feelings that hold you back and identify the best way to move forward. No matter what you're going through, I am here to support you.
You'll see that I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. Treatment specialization includes:
Depression and Anxiety
Healthy Relationships
"Adulting"
Communications
Self-Harm
Substance Abuse
Disordered Eating
Self-Esteem
Life Skills
Conflict Resolution
Parenting
Empowerment
Grief and Loss
Trauma
Life Transitions
Co-Dependency
Adolescence is a confusing and complicated time of life. Hormones are kicking in, bodies are changing, social media rules their world, brains are developing, and school, friends and parents have expectations that can overwhelm a young person. Seemingly overnight, your teenager has morphed into someone you hardly recognize. He or she may be stressed out or depressed or experimenting with drugs or alcohol or sneaking around. Perhaps your teen has become disruptive or is isolating away from the family. I understand that teenagers thrive when they feel accepted and understood. Using humor and a non-judgmental approach, I create a safe place for teens to open up and begin to explore their underlying feelings and issues. We talk about brain development in order to "normalize" their struggles and better understand their own impulses and behaviors. Through metaphor, storytelling, art, play and education I get to the heart of their self-esteem, identity and self-worth issues. Kids learn healthy and appropriate coping skills to manage their uncomfortable feelings and a vocabulary to improve communication. They'll also have the opportunity to identify their values and goals and learn skills to reduce family conflict. All of this leads to happier teenagers and healthier families.
No longer teenagers but not quite adults -- that's the dilemma of the young adult. While you may be legally of-age, you haven't quite mastered the skills to balance all the elements of an older adult -- work, college, family, social life, partying, maybe even a general direction in life. Maybe your emotions haven't caught up with your age yet. Maybe you're still bothered by some issues from way back in your life. Maybe you're realizing that "adulting" is a lot harder than you thought it would be. Call me. Let's figure things out and devise a structure that you can build on. I'm willing to discount my fees to self-paying college students.
I see adults on a very limited basis. Adults often feel overwhelmed by the pressure to "hold it all together", particularly if they have families, careers and other responsibilities. It seems that there's just not enough time or energy left for themselves after they've taken care of everyone else. Life loses its balance and meaning. Many adults reach a certain birthday that inspires them to redefine their purpose and goals. Along with the aging process come predictable life transitions that can produce feelings of grief and loss. Maybe there's an "empty nest" for the first time or the loss of an aging parent. Together, we'll review where you've been and make a plan for where you'd like to be. We'll identify your strengths and build on them as you learn new ways to cope with life's stressors and regain a sense of mastery and balance in your life.
Families can be tough! Each one is a mini-community of busy people with different wants, needs and expectations. Some parents are rigid when it comes to change, while others undermine the structure altogether. Some parents are completely baffled by the changes they see in their children and have no idea what to do. Often, an event disrupts the balance in the family. It's common to have a family member who gets overlooked or who fights to be recognized by acting out in negative ways. I am very attuned to the many challenges of parenting. I can help guide parents to have appropriate expectations of their children by educating them about developmental stages and teaching skills for effective communication. In therapy, each person gains a "voice", an understanding of their role, and skills to improve communication and resolve conflicts. Families can learn to appreciate that each member contributes to "the team" and its overall success and happiness. Parenting becomes less of a power struggle, which results in feeling more connected with the family.
At the heart of making good choices and living a healthy, balanced life is the belief that you are worthy of living such a life. My Empowerment Model is a series of interactive exercises that will help you discover -- or rediscover -- your value and self-worth. I also facilitate Empowerment Groups and Workshops, featuring my own Empowerment Model as a tool for change. Please inquire when a new group or workshop is starting.
Sometimes it's appropriate to address or stabilize certain issues in an inpatient or residential setting prior to working with an individual therapist like me. I have extensive knowledge and experience with many programs across the country, including diagnostic facilities, wilderness programs, residential treatment centers and therapeutic boarding schools. I also work with a network of professionals who specialize in making referrals to these kinds of programs, and I can guide you through this confusing process. Call me and we can discuss the best way to manage your individual situation.
I have extensive experience as a presenter and trainer in a variety of venues. Combining humor with substance, I have been an invited speaker at conferences, public and private schools, treatment facilities, parents' groups, and within the local court systems. Presentations can be customized to any size group or audience. Following is a sampling of presentations:
- Substance Abuse for Nursing Students; University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, AZ
- Surviving Grief & Loss: A Workshop for Middle School Kids; Marana Unified School District, Marana, AZ
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Empowerment Series; Marana Unified School District, Marana, AZ
- Empowering Adolescents to Change; Southwestern School for Behavioral Health Studies 40th Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ
- Women in Recovery: Rediscovering What’s Important; The Haven; Tucson, AZ
- Living Life in Balance: Marana School District Counselors Meeting; Tucson, AZ
- Values: A Workshop in Self-Empowerment; Cottonwood de Tucson Alumni Meeting
- Adolescence from the Adolescent's Point of View; Oak Creek Ranch School Parents' Weekend, Sedona, AZ
- Personal Empowerment and the Movies; Cottonwood de Tucson Alumni Reunion
- Adolescent Depression and Suicide; Pima County Juvenile Court; Tucson, AZ
- Self-Empowerment and Chronic Pain; Tucson Neuropathy Support Group