I offer individual, couple and family psychotherapy.  When working with older adults, family therapy often involves parents and their adult children working together.  

My therapeutic approach is to be actively engaged in guiding people to resolve their current concerns, as well as to gain greater insight of any deeper or underlying issues.  I focus on guiding people to lead a more meaningful, balanced and enjoyable life.

Although my interactions vary for each individual, I work to develop a strong and trusting therapeutic alliance.   Psychotherapy is both exciting and challenging as people learn a new perspective to resolve their immediate concerns, understand their motivations and feelings more deeply, assert themselves, and develop an enduring sense of emotional well being. 

Since 1996 I have worked with older adults, both in my private practice and in long term care settings.  I have developed a keen understanding of the issues frequently experienced by older adults. 

These often include:
   - Retirement
   - Grief and loss, often due to widowhood
   - Difficulty accepting one's aging
   - Possible need to change one's living situation
   - Concerns about one's health or health of a loved one
   - Anxiety related to possible problems with memory
   - Unresolved past issues that interfere with enjoying life
   - Fear of being more dependent or a burden to others
   - Depression, which is not a normal aspect of aging
   - Stresses in one's relationships with a spouse, partner, 
     or adult children

Just as there are issues specific to the needs of older adults, often family members have specific concerns regarding their loved ones.  I've observed that learning to cope better with an older adult frequently leads to additional issues that are worked through in psychotherapy.  Additional information and resourses regarding the concerns of family members are addressed on the CAREGIVING page of this website.

I provide consultation to mental health professionals about a number of issues, and especially related to geropsychology.

There are a wide range of professional services related to Elder Care.  I offer two types of consultation:

- Helping the professionals and/or their staff understand   issues related to the psychological issues of older adults

- Meeting directly with their clients: the older adults and/or their family members may need an objective person to provide information about available services.  For example, a family might need guidance in deciding among possible choices of care for an older adult who is getting more confused but reluctant to move from home. A family consultation can help everyone understand the need for, and appropriate level of home care or placement before contacting a residential placement service, home care agency or long term care facility.

For more detailed information, please see the COLLEAGUES and ELDER CARE PROVIDERS pages.

I enjoy giving presentations to the general public, people working in the vast field of elder care, and mental health professionals.  Please feel free to contact me so that we might tailor a talk or workshop to best meet the needs of your group or organization.  In addition, I offer continuing education classes for mental health professional.  Allied professionals are welome to attend.  Please see the CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM page.