About Myself

My Story
My Brand of Alternative & Holistic Therapy, Coaching & Counseling

It’s my personal belief and conviction that the vast majority of universities and schools teaching and training clinical psychotherapists do not provide the essential and necessary skill-sets and tools to their students simply because their models of change and healing are often so limited and antiquated. These are vestiges of an old psychoanalytic paradigm that, while having helped some, is fortunately beginning to be replaced with more pragmatically-based and solution-focused therapies, most notably those incorporating Cognitive-Behavioral techniques (CBT), Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT), and a number of other approaches. My approach borrows from and integrates CBT, DBT, and other solution-driven approaches. It brings the coaching model into the therapy space. It is designed to create results.

My background: I have almost 30 years of experience providing psychotherapy to those suffering from depression, anxiety, behavioral addictions, and other mental health issues, and helping individuals - including couples, teens, and families - improve their relationships. I’ve worked extensively with marital and family challenges, sexuality, parenting, teenagers, ADD/ADHD, families — including blended families and in-law issues, addictions including sexual and pornography addictions, as well as those with job, career and organizational challenges. I’m also a writer and speaker, and a retired NY attorney.

I’ve been a guest on numerous radio shows and on Lifetime Television’s morning Show, The Balancing Act. My articles, which can be viewed under the Articles tab in this site, cover relationship challenges including marriage, family, parenting, dating, sexuality, and addictions, as well as topics related to spirituality and metaphysical approaches to growth and change.

History

Practicing law as a New York trial lawyer and litigator for ten years in New York was a spiritual springboard for me from an ego-based paradigm of verbal combat, judgment, and a scarcity mentality, to an orientation based on compassion and forgiveness as the road to inner peace and abundance. I have had excellent results in my work as is evidenced by many testimonials, some of which can be viewed under the link in this site with that name, and by scores of satisfied patients and clients.

I left my career as a New York trial lawyer and returned to my roots in psychology and personal growth as a relationship and life coach because I found that my integrity was frequently challenged in an area of law that proved to be quite unscrupulous. I left because I wanted to help people with real problems in a practical way, and because I found a way to do so that is effective, and, in my view, inconsistent with the largely ineffectual, traditional, psychoanalytically-based model. It is significant that my skills, perspective, and approach to healing and personal growth are also the product of my life experience and my work on myself.

I worked for two of the largest behavioral health care companies in the world – Magellan Behavioral Health and United Behavioral Health – in the capacities of EAP specialist, provider relations coordinator, and intake counselor. Following college, I was a milieu therapist on an acute-care inpatient psychiatric unit at Framingham Union Hospital where I worked as part of an interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses; was trained and served as a crisis counselor at the Worcester Crisis Center; and interned as a therapist in the Hunter College Employee Assistance Program for university faculty and staff.

I hold an MSW from Hunter College, a JD from Brooklyn Law School, and a BA awarded cum laude in Psychology from Clark University. I am an LCSW in New York State, and hold a Level II certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (“EMDR”) which is often referred to as the state-of-the-art treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I am Level II certified in Essential Skills in Energy Psychology by ACEP (The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology). I am also certified Level I in both IET (Integrated Energy Therapy) and in Reiki.

Alternative, Holistic, and

Non-traditional…

I have a unique and proactive, “outside the box” approach to helping people. My approach is largely non-traditional, solution-focused, and combines alternative and holistic techniques for creating meaningful change and lasting results.

I guide, share, teach, and facilitate change and healing utilizing your own strengths and based upon both Western and Eastern schools of thought, as well as from lessons derived from my own life experience and challenges. My writings, public speaking, and practice are informed by the principles of A Course In Miracles, The “Secret” Law of Attraction and other eastern teachings including the work of Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson. I also incorporate modalities of the "Inner Child" work of John Bradshaw and principles of Dr. Scott M. Peck.

My marriage counseling and relationship coaching work is informed by “Emotionally Focused Therapy”, “Imago Therapy”, and utilizes an integrative, holistic approach which incorporates mind, body, and spirit. Depending on the circumstances, I may teach healthy communication skills including “active listening”, facilitate guided meditation or teach meditation or “Emotional Freedom Technique” (“EFT”) for help dealing with overwhelming feelings, utilize “Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing” (“EMDR”) or incorporate hypnotherapy into the sessions.

I completed an externship in “Emotionally Focused Therapy” developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, which is considered by many to be the most successful approach to couples counseling in the world today. EFT is one of the best documented, most substantive, and well-researched approaches to couples therapy; it stands as one of the best validated couples interventions in North America, having achieved an astounding 75 percent success rate, with 86 percent of couples reporting feeling happier in their relationships. This is in stark comparison to other forms of couples therapy which have been shown in studies to be only about 35 percent effective in healing relationships.

Working Together…

My approach is compassionate, direct, practical, and “hands-on." I’m there to hold my clients accountable for their work, to help monitor their progress, and to help them work through challenges as they may arise along the way. I see myself as holding the torch or lantern to light the way for your growth, the attainment of your relationship and life goals, and the healing of your mental health challenges.

Whether you’re seeing me for individual work, or as a couple or family, I’ll often assign “homework” so that you’re actively working between your sessions, and gently hold you accountable in the next session, so that you’re always moving forward towards your goals.

For years, I’ve led A Course in Miracles study groups, and given lectures and workshops on principles of abundance and change. I facilitated a weekly separation and divorce support group for many years in Pennsylvania and have given talks on topics including spirituality, psychology, improving couples relationships, stress reduction utilizing progressive relaxation and guided imagery, meditation, and Emotional Freedom Technique ("EFT"), a form of energy psychology.