Has the use of alcohol or other substances caused problems for you or someone you care for? Has gambling, shopping, smartphone overuse, or video gaming, taken over your life? If so, you are not alone. I offer specialized psychotherapy services designed to meet your needs, as well as significant others who are looking for support through the recovery process.
Diagnostic testing may be helpful to identify cognitive and emotional difficulties such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, sources of low self-esteem, self-regulation problems, and learning disabilities. Disability determinations, dementia screening, forensic assessments in high conflict divorce, gastric bypass consultations, and neuropsychological testing are specific evaluations offered in the practice. These evaluations can be very effective for those seeking diagnostic clarity for intervention or legal matters, medical clearance for gastric bypass procedure, educational accommodations, and school placement.
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I use a collaborative, integrative approach to target symptoms and change patterns of behavior with children, adolescents, and adults. Psychodynamic, CBT, and evidence-based coaching are all models used to support emotional healing and relieve symptoms. Common mental health issues include addictions, ADHD, anxiety, autistic spectrum, behavioral problems, depression, learning disabilities, and PTSD. Couples and family treatments are also available.
In addition to patient clinical services, my practice also offers an array of corporate consulting and HR/EAP seminars with a particular focus on improving job performance and minimizing burnout, using mindfulness based stress reduction to reduce job-related stress, and utilizing psychological models to effectively manage organizational change. I have conducted over 500 consultations/ presentations with HR teams, general staff, managers, and senior leadership from various industries, including medicine, higher education, engineering, investment banking, movie production, defense contracting, marketing/advertising, and law in just the last five years. Most consults/seminar presentations ranged from workplace incivility to managing anxiety related to socio-political unrest and COVID-19. Several of these consults were based on the Critical-Incident Stress Management model (CISM) for debriefing post-traumatic events.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist, a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor, and a master addictions counselor with over 25 years of experience treating a broad range of mental health issues with particular expertise in 1) alcohol and substance abuse treatment, 2) psychological/neuropsychological testing, and 3) forensic consultation on legal matters involving addiction and its impact on the family.
Since 1996, I have worked in the non-profit and for-profit mental health service system, translating organizational missions into clinical practice, teaching, leadership, supervision/mentorship, and program development. My leadership approach is consistent with my therapeutic style: compassionate, effective communication, exploration of known and hidden barriers, identification of options, and selection of a path toward change. These and other values are also integrated into my research. Values such as honoring our differences and unique skills, as well as advocating for social justice and equity in our work/personal life led to being the first recipient of the Kenneth B. Clark award for Social Justice at CCNY in 2006.
In my clinical experience, integrating a collaborative, evidence-based coaching approach, including psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral strategies in substance abuse treatment has netted positive outcomes. Over the last 10 years I have developed and implemented two recovery-focused interventions for substance abusing patients and their families that address the acute, active, and maintenance phases of the condition. Through these intervention approaches, I have assisted close to 90% of treatment refusing substance users to accept initial treatment and engage the family in the recovery process.
Over the last eight years, I have consulted with over 600 HR teams and leaders from the Fortune 500, academia, legal firms, and sport to address workplace incivility, develop strategies for work-life balance, manage anxiety related to socio-political unrest and COVID-19, and general mental health concerns. Several of these consults were based on the Critical-Incident Stress Management model (CISM) for debriefing post-traumatic events.