Together we can create powerful and lasting change
You have good insight. You’re self-aware. You know what’s not working in your life. You may even know why it’s not working, why you’re doing what you’re doing, and perhaps even where it comes from.
And, you may even see yourself — frustratingly in real time — doing the very things you’d like to change, but you just can’t translate that awareness to different decision-making in the moment.
What does the work look like?
Mindfulness
Mindfulness simply means having your mind be where your body is, anchoring the mind to the present moment where you are currently living and breathing. Many of the struggles we experience stem from our minds being elsewhere: ruminating about something that’s already happened, or more likely, anticipating and planning and preparing for what may — or may not — come. With a mindfulness-based approach, we work to build a skill set that allows you to place your attention where you’d like it to be, and to build the muscle to let go of unhelpful, even damaging, thoughts.
The Power of Thought
The way you think has a huge impact on how you feel. And sometimes — perhaps often if we’re struggling emotionally — our thoughts are negative, irrational, or untrue. For example, “I’m disgusting,” “I’m so lazy,” or jumping to the worst case scenario. When we learn to identify such thoughts, we’re able to catch and release them in real time or use strategies to challenge or reframe them. We make connections between how such thinking makes us feel, and we learn how to better respond when such thoughts arise.
Empowered Behavior
Very often, when we’re struggling emotionally, we engage in behavior that, although we think it will help, actually makes us feel worse. We make plans, perhaps very detailed plans, to avoid the discomfort of uncertainty and to prevent something from going wrong.
We try to answer unanswerable questions. We seek information or reassurance from others… but then question it. We avoid things that feel scary or uncomfortable. We double check and make sure. And we do these things because we’re trying — sometimes desperately — to get the negative feelings to go away, or to feel certain.
But certainty is a fallacy. And negative feelings need to be felt. So, the better approach is to — in an empowered way — refrain from doing these things and learn how to tolerate the discomfort.
This work is the trickiest, most subtle bit, and is the hardest work for people to figure out on their own, outside of therapy.
Acceptance
We create suffering when we wish for things to be different when they cannot be. Maybe they can’t ever be different. Or, maybe they can be different in the future, but just not right now. But when we struggle to accept, in the present moment, what is, we suffer. Using this concept therapeutically, we work to be present — and even content — in the moment as it is, to believe that the present moment is sufficiently good, to accept what we cannot control, and to make decisions for our future in a values-based way and without trying to escape the now.
Slow Magic
Long-term change only happens with small changes done consistently over time. I like to refer to this process as “slow magic.” Regardless of what problem my client is presenting with, slow magic is required. Whether it’s building new habits, challenging anxiety, or building confidence, time and consistency are required. We explore and process. We discover their powerful reasons and motivation for change. We identify and overcome barriers that prevent them from being consistent. They begin to believe that they will do what they say they will do… and slowly, magically, we see them emerge changed.
Cultivating Happiness, Wellbeing, and Meaning
Rather than trying to “fix what’s wrong,” we can pursue happiness and wellbeing, accomplishment, strength and resilience, intense engagement and good relationships, and meaningful fulfillment. Focusing on our strengths, fostering optimism and hope, practicing gratitude, and savoring the good allow us to not just survive but thrive, to not just exist but to truly live.
For many of my clients, we often begin by reducing acute distress, and then the work organically moves into creating lives filled with meaning, significance, and purpose.
These are empowering approaches. They allow you to know yourself better, learn skills and tools to respond more in line with who you’d like to be, and to build self-confidence.
They open a door to a new life, and a new way of being, even a new way of looking at — and believing in — yourself.
I firmly believe my job is to put myself out of a job for each and every client; that is, there will come a time when you no longer need regular support and guidance from me… because you’ve built the tool kit, but you’ve also become your own compass and learned to trust yourself.
Most Asked Questions
When beginning Therapy
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Almost. I must be licensed in the state I am in (Connecticut), as well as the state my client is in. Because I’m licensed in the states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Kentucky, I can see you if you live — or are physically located — in one of these five states, or in a participating PSYPACT state (which at this point is most of the U.S.), at the time of our session.
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I work with individual adults aged 25 to 65. I do not treat adolescents or children. I also do not provide family or couples therapy.
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Please review the Specialties page to ensure that what you’re struggling with is an area of specialty for me.
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$350 for the first two-hour session, $250 for subsequent 45- to 50-minute sessions.
No, I do not accept insurance. I have a self-pay arrangement with my clients, and accept payment in the form of a credit or HSA card.
If your insurance company offers out-of-network reimbursement, I can provide Superbills when appropriate.
You may obtain a Good Faith Estimate of charges upon request prior to scheduling.
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I am in the office Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and see clients between the hours of 9:00 and 5:00.
I recognize that my hours may coincide with your work hours. However, my clients and I have found that, because they are able to log on remotely, they have been able to schedule a session during their lunch hour, or on a day when they’re working from home. Telehealth has proven immensely beneficial to many of my clients, allowing them to prioritize their self-care and fit therapy into their busy lives in a way a session that requires a commute does not.
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I do ask all potential clients to review this information, in The Most Important FAQs for Potential Clients, to ensure that my policies are in line with your expectations. (If you reach out and you’ve read through these questions already, please mention it!)
If so, then we schedule an initial consultation call. Over a 20 to 30 minute phone call, you can tell me a bit about your specific situation, and I can talk with you about what working with me might look like. Then, we make sure we’re on the same page as far as logistics and, if we’re on the same page at that point, we can look at scheduling.
You can reach me directly by filling out the Contact form or sending me an email. I hope to hear from you soon!
Resources to help you thrive
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Therapy
Science-based approaches, delivered in a modern way, for the way you live. I’m based in Connecticut, with roots in Cincinnati, serving residents of Connecticut, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, and New Jersey.
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Extra Support
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