Virtually everyone who comes for therapy is bright and insightful. Along with this "package" comes thoughtfulness, sensitivity, shyness, and anxiety. This can make important life steps excruciating. Talking therapy is a necessary first step toward an action plan: small, logical steps, and strategies to manage anxiety make these steps surmountable: overcoming social phobia, changing career plans, or dealing with the proverbial "cocktail party" become possible and enjoyable. I'm involved and available between appointments, since reducing intense anxiety and panic can best be helped in real-life situations.

Many people coming for my help are referred by friends with relationship issues, such as a steady relationship not heading toward commitment, or excessive bickering. Feeling better about oneself or about one's partner brings about good will - much more satisfying and effective than emphasizing problems!

Occasionally, people "give up" on themselves. Once again, gentle exhortation and an appropriate plan can be extraordinarily powerful tools for getting past the inertia that accompanies depression.

A special part of my practice is reserved for the self-critical adolescent who finds him or herself desiring enhanced social skills, improved learning strategies, or greater confidence with romance.

This is also the optimal life stage to improve upon self-care difficulties like eating disorders or trichotillomania (nervous hair pulling). We often stay in close touch during college, yet another major life challenge. Seeing these people emerge as satisfied and effective adults is profoundly rewarding.

In medicine, specialties are imperative. In psychology, I hope you see that it's more about the complexity of the whole person, presenting with a myriad of issues.