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Additional Information
Specialties or Interests:
Addiction Issues
Anxiety Disorders
Bereavement / Grief / Loss
Depression
Domestic Violence (Victims)
Gay and Lesbian Issues
Marriage/Couples Issues
Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Other Specialties:
Adult Children of Alcoholics
AIDS Related Issues
Alcoholism
Borderline Personality Disorders
Childhood Sexual Abuse (Victims)
Codependency
Compulsive Behaviors
Compulsive Gambling
Divorce
Drug Abuse
Eating Disorders
Emotional Growth and Development
Executive Coaching
Identity Issues
Intimacy Issues
Men’s Issues
Midlife Issues
Obesity
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Organizational / Life Management
Parenting Issues
Personality Disorders
Psychosomatic Issues
Rape Crisis
Self-Injury
Sexual Assault Victims
Single Parenting
Substance Abuse
Trauma
Workplace Issues
Personal Comments:
My primary interest in therapy is in helping people to find and be their true Self. It's like in the commercial: be all you can be. This means looking at who you really are, the relationships you are in, and what stops you from having the life you want. It also means getting help in learning what isn't working, understanding why it's not working, and changing things so your life does work for you.
I see therapy as a process of self-discovery: a careful, supportive exploration of how you act, think, feel, and relate to others today and how those all have been affected by your life experiences. It is also an opportunity to grow and develop new and more effective ways of interacting and communicating in your relationships. In therapy with me you may gain the awareness that comes from understanding, the freedom from outmoded patterns of acting and reacting, the strength to tolerate life's pains, and the capacity to tolerate its pleasures. The result is what I think we all want: the ability to feel good about yourself, to enjoy yourself, and to have satisfying relationships with others.
Through my years of practice, I have engaged in extensive study in the areas of physical and emotional trauma and people's response to and recovery from it. This has included those people and their families who have been subject to violent crimes including rape, assault, and domestic violence. In addition, this study has involved thorough investigations of depression, anxiety, addiction, and self-esteem. My study has also included over twenty years of examination of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theory and practice, the relation and interaction between the mind and body, and issues relating to gender identity and sexual orientation. These studies have been supported by my many years of practice and experience.
Professional Title/s:
Marital and Family Therapist
Psychologist
Minimum Hourly Fee:
$75-$99
Accepted Insurance
Any Plan
Treatment Modalities
12-Step Programs
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Marriage/Couples Counseling
Play Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychotherapy
Accepting New Patients:
Yes
Years In Practice:
16+
Licensed in:
California
License:
Psy8912
Degree:
PhD
Institution:
USIU
Office Information/Hours:
By appointment.
Professional Organizations/ Affiliations:
APA (American Psychological Association), Member.
Division of Psychotherapy, Division 29, Member.
Division of Psychoanalysis, Division 39, Member.
Division of Clinical Psychology, Division 12, Member.
Division of Independent Practice, Division 42, Member.
Division of Media Psychology, Division 46, Member.
CPA (California Psychological Association), Member.
LACPA (Los Angeles County Psychological Association),Member.
Victim Treatment Committee, Chair/Co-Chair (April, 1992 - present).
Psychologists Referral Network (PRN),
LACPA's Information and Referral Service, Member.
Media Psychology Committee, Member.
LASCP (Los Angeles Society of Clinical Psychologists), Member.
CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists), Member.
LACAMFT (Los Angeles Chapter, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists), Member.
IIBA (International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis), Member.
SCIBA (Southern California Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis), Member.
CAPSAC (California Professional Society on the Abuse of Children), Member.
Treatment Age(s):
Adolescents
Adults
Children
Couples
Families
Therapeutic Orientation:
Cognitive
Family/Marital Therapy
Humanistic
Play Therapy
Psychoanalytic
Psychodynamic
Gender:
Male
General Comments:
Background
I have been in private practice since 1981. I have taught, trained, and supervised other mental health professionals. I hold a diplomate from the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and was Chair or co-hair of the Victim Treatment Committee of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association. I am on the advisory board of Break the Cycle, a non-profit organization dedicated to education, advocacy, and intervention in stopping teen dating violence. I have earned and maintained the American Psychological Association's Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders. I am a Supervisor and Certified Bioenergetic Therapist, integrating bioenergetic analysis, modern psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and other psychotherapeutic modalities since 1974. Special study has been in the area of issues relating to gay, lesbian, and bisexual life, growth, development, coming out, being out, relationships, and homophobia. For several years I have also seen people in medical settings where patients have been recovering from illnesses including strokes, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or various other conditions affecting their mind and their emotions. I have served several terms on the Boards of the Los Angeles Society of Clinical Psychologists and the Los Angeles Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Personal Statement
Overview
My primary interest in therapy has been in helping people to find and be their true Self. It's like in the commercial: be all you can be. This means looking at who you really are, the relationships you are in, and what stops you from having the life you want. It also means getting help in learning what isn't working, understanding why it's not working, and changing things so your life does work for you.
I see therapy as a process of self-discovery: a careful, supportive exploration of how you act, think, feel, and relate to others today and how those all have been affected by your life experiences. It is also an opportunity to grow and develop new and more effective ways of interacting and communicating in your relationships. In therapy with me you may gain the awareness that comes from understanding, the freedom from outmoded patterns of acting and reacting, the strength to tolerate life's pains, and the capacity to tolerate its pleasures. The result is what I think we all want: the ability to feel good about yourself, to enjoy yourself, and to have satisfying relationships with others.
Victims of Violent Crime
If you or a family member have been a victim of violent crime, I give you a place where you can feel safe and where you can honestly and openly talk about what happened to you or your family member and how it still effects you, even when your friends and family don't want to or can't stand to hear about it any longer. I will help you to understand why you are reacting as you do, even when you may feel out of control and maybe even a little crazy. I will also give you ways to work through the psychological and emotional impact of what happened and to help you get your life back. People often discover new skills, strengths, and internal resources that either they never knew they had or that they have only now developed. I also want you to know that if you or your family member is a victim of violent crime, you may be eligible for therapy at no cost to you.
Gay/Lesbian Issues
While I work with heterosexuals, as most psychologists do, I also work with many gay, bisexual, or lesbian people, both individually and in couples. Some people come in because they are questioning their sexual orientation. You may be in a process of self-examination and self-discovery, and you will be the one to decide what your sexual orientation and identity is rather than have me or anyone else tell you what it is. You may be in a process of coming out, and together we can consider if, when, how, and with whom you decide to do that. I will be your sounding board, your dis-information advocate, your guide, and your ally.
Sometimes, though, people come in being very clear and comfortable with their sexual orientation, whatever that may be. If you are looking for a safe place where you can be open about who you are, use honest words like "he" when referring to your male partner, talk candidly about your sexual practices, and maybe also frankly discuss how HIV has impacted your life or your relationships, then I'm happy to be able to give that to you.
Addictions (Substances and Behaviors)
People often recognize that they may have difficulty with alcohol or drugs, though frequently they also need some help to evaluate how great that difficulty is or isn't and what they might be able to do about it. You might be asking some of the same questions about some of your behaviors as well, such as computer or Internet usage, online porn, sexual behaviors and compulsions, gambling, spending, TV watching, eating, cutting, or any other thing you do that somehow feels questionable or possibly out of control in you life, including some of the ways you interact with other people. Some people even feel like they are addicted to another person, what sometimes has been referred to as "love addiction." Many people have found it extremely helpful to begin examining with me how looking at some of the things in their life from a perspective of addiction may add understanding and avenues for change and resolution.
Mind/Body
My education and my own therapy have taught me that the mind and body are functionally identical. What you think can affect how you feel, and what you feel affects how think. So, I work at both levels, with people who are interested in doing that. In addition to traditional talk therapy, I am also able to work somatically (with the body) to help you resolve your emotional problems, discover deeper levels of understanding and resolution, and realize more of your potential for pleasure and joy in living. In my own life, my focus on the somatic aspects has enabled me to feel more alive, connected, and integrated, and I am glad to provide you with an opportunity to find that for yourself too. For people who aren't interested in the somatic work, I am happy to stay strictly in a talk-therapy mode.
Conclusion
I see my role as an ally, guide, and navigator on your journey. I have made my own journey of self-exploration, and I see myself as continuously pursuing that voyage. I can offer support and encouragement when the going is rough, and I can also share in your pleasures and joy in living. I can help with identifying and working through obstacles, and I will work with you to increase your sense of internal harmony, to enhance your ability to relate to others honestly, openly, and deeply, and to help you feel more productive, effective, and joyful in everyday living. You set the course, and I'll help you get there.
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