Some of the reasons people come to me for counseling (psychotherapy) include:
Special Populations:
College and Graduate Students: Pursuing higher education is a necessity in today's world, however the transitions and pressures can sometimes feel overwhelming. Being in a new environment, attempting to master a work/life balance, deciding on a major, or completing a thesis can feel unmanageable at times.
Medical Students & Residents: The academic, physical and emotional challenges of completing medical school and matriculating through a residency are complicated and even the most well prepared can become un-tethered by the pressures. I have worked with many doctors in training both in my private practice as well as in academic medical facilities and am uniquely attuned to the specific demands this type of training requires.
Adolescents: Teenagers seek assistance with issues including increased stress, depression and anxiety as well as concerns about their academic progress, daily living, adjustment to college, or relationships with others. Counseling can be an opportunity to talk about issues that are of concern with an objective person who can help to develop skills and view situations in ways that may enable you to be more effective in managing life's challenges down the road. I give you a safe, private space where what you talk about in the room stays in the room between you and I.
Young Adults: The exact age at which an adolescent grows into and becomes an adult has become more and more vague. This transition, which can begin in late teenage years and continue through one's early thirties, has created the need for a new developmental stage assignment which is called young adulthood. Young adulthood is the period of time in which an individual often seeks to make a myriad of commitments, including but not limited to commitments of profession, geographic location, sexual identification and committing to a significant other. Young adults can find themselves immobilized by societal pressures to make such lifelong commitments seemingly simultaneously.
Obtaining support during this time can make the difference between experiencing years of struggle versus experiencing years of positive exploration. I offer a safe, non-judgmental environment in which an individual feels secure to examine and consider all options available and to ensure that any commitments made are as authentic as possible.
Couples: Regardless of sexual orientation and whether you are dating, cohabitating, engaged or married, all relationships require work. Young couples today face challenges that are made more complicated by our fast paced society. Choices are vast and the decision to settle into a committed relationship can be daunting. I help young couples develop the communication skills needed for a long term bond. When couples are at different stages in their level of commitment to one another, communication and tolerance are essential. Insecurity and impatience can derail established connections unnecessarily. Couples therapy facilitates the development of empathy for the other, which helps to guide the development of committed and stable relationships. Issues of communication, trust, not feeling respected, or dissatisfaction with sexual intimacy become too challenging and couples need support. At other times it is not an issue between two partners, but pressure from the outside -- crisis at work, parenting, family and in-law issues, becoming stepparents. I can help you find new ways to communicate in a more loving and respectful way, help to resolve conflicts without it always escalating into a fight and learn to solve problems as a team. I want to help you support each other as friends, lovers and partners in life.
Food and Body Image Issues: Problems with food and body image can be seen as symptoms of deeper issues which often involve a person's sense of self, or who they are. A preoccupation with eating and appearance, to the extent that it interferes with your ability to sustain relationships or causes difficulties in your functioning, can be seen as conflicts concerning your sense of identity, sexuality, or lack of power and feelings of entitlement in relationship to others. These symptoms can also be the result of some sort of traumatic experiences one has endured. It is important to figure out what may be causing these difficulties.
Disordered eating symptoms and a focus on weight, size and shape will often serve to help one manage difficult feelings, thoughts and moods. With this is mind, it can be helpful to pursue help with these issues in a safe, supportive environment with someone who specializes in treating disordered eating. I specialize in working with compulsive over-eaters and binge eaters.