People come to therapy for many, many reasons. Many of my clients have been to therapy before, and are looking for a new or different approach, for many it is their first time and they may feel a little unsure about what to expect or how therapy can help them. I work with all kinds of issues and I collaborate with other therapists, healthcare, and medical professionals as needed. Therapy is a highly individualized process and it's tough to find a formula for which therapist is best for which client or which issue. No therapist is a match for every client, and it may be possible that after someone meets with me they feel they need something different. That's okay. I have connections with a varied group of therapists, life coaches, and spiritual directors that I can refer clients to if they feel I'm not a fit. To get a sense of how I think, here are some of the most common issues I work with.

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• Depression and Low Mood- Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in our country and it is frequently what brings a person to therapy. I believe that the priority in working with depression is to get you up and running again. I favor solution -focused, action-based approaches to resolve the acute disabling symptoms of depression like fatigue, procrastination, joylessness and low energy. Often, that's all my clients feel they needed. Often clients like to look a little more closely at the root causes of their depression or the depression-anxiety cycle, and I have helped many people profit from a close look at where their issues stem from.

• Anxiety and Panic Symptoms- Anxiety, like depression, is a common experience that brings people to therapy. Like depression, I believe getting someone to a place where they feel they can function is the primary goal and I generally apply action-based, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) style interventions to help reduce the acute symptoms of anxiety. I also work on helping people maintain gains made in dealing with anxiety by teaching mindfulness and meditation techniques and by helping clients build a sense of control and agency in their lives.

• Substance Abuse and Addiction Issues- I have worked with people struggling with chemical dependencies and addictive behaviors for many years. I am well versed in both traditional 12-Step approaches and Harm Reduction treatment models and have found both effective in working with different clients and addictive behaviors. I treat the client- not the addiction- and I collaborate with the client and -if its advisable- with family, other treatment professionals and members of a client's community to find solutions that foster growth and independence.

• Autism Spectrum Disorders- I have worked with numerous clients who are on the Autism Spectrum. In my view,  Autism is best thought of as a trait and not as a disorder. I work with Autism from a position that respects neurodiversity- the idea that all kinds of emotional and cognitive makeups are valid and make positive contributions. The world is not set up for people on the Autism Spectrum, and part of my role is to help people diagnosed with Autism navigate those challenges and difficulties in a way that doesn't relegate them to second class status in their own eyes.

• Couples Therapy- Whether you feel your relationship is in crisis or you and your partner just need a little help communicating better couples therapy can be helpful. No two people are perfectly compatible and maintaining a relationship is hard work, even in the best of times. I work with couples to better communicate their needs to one another, to assess their own roles in the issues the couple faces, and to develop the sense of trust and safety that builds truly durable bonds.

• Caregiver and Sibling Support- Disability and chronic illness affect whole families. The stresses and struggles that come with having a sibling with a severe disability or a partner with a chronic condition that requires constant care are often difficult to cope with on your own. The expectations that get placed on the family system are often the source of deep anxiety, depression, guilt, and shame. I work with some of the beliefs and feelings that often undermine the mental health of caregivers and help people caring for a sick or disabled loved one develop a sense of agency and stability that can buoy them when the rough work of taking care of someone feels like too much.

• Artists and Performers- I have worked with numerous artists and performers who struggle with creative blocks, confidence, and performance difficulties. Often creative stagnation can be related to other mental health issues that I help artists identify and work around. The Creative Arts carry a lot of job related mental health hazards- feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and imposter syndrome are inevitable parts of the job when you set out for a career in the arts. Therapy can be a vital part of managing and minimizing these struggles that go hand in hand with the life of a writer, performer, or visual artist.