I've been a psychotherapist for 30+ years and have extensive experience working people across a wide age range, from college age to late adulthood. I earned my doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 and worked at Duke University's Counseling Center for 20+ years before transitioning into full-time private practice. I work effectively with depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, anger, and alcohol and/or substance use concerns.
I have many years of training and experience as a psychologist, and I am flexible in tailoring my approach to fit the unique needs of my clients. I'm respectful and sincere but have a relaxed, informal style. I'm direct and upfront about what I'm thinking and much prefer plain language to clinical jargon. I love to use humor and laughter to build a helping relationship that can also hold the heaviest emotions and struggles. Clients find me to be authentic and relatable as a person.
Within a couple sessions, clients often feel relief just from knowing they found a therapist who understands, cares, and has the skills to help. Over time, they gain understanding of themselves and what they need to thrive. Together, we generate solutions, try them out, and learn what works. By the end of therapy, most clients are no longer distressed by their original concerns, they feel better about themselves in general, and they know they have the tools to deal with future difficulties.
