While I have much experience treating the majority of issues the typical therapist encounters,
there are some issues which have become specialties for me through my years of experience, practice and training. I frequently
provide consultations for other therapists on these issues and have given presentations on many of them. My main areas of
specialization include working with:
1. Adolescents,
Young People and their Families
2. Men's Issues
3. People in Crisis
4. Artists and Musicians
5. People
Experiencing Major Life Transitions
6. Disabilities (Individuals and their families) and
7. ADHD (Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder).
ADOLESCENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES:
I have worked with Adolescents since
1995 and feel a particular empathy for them because they are caught in the middle of many struggles such as the clash between
being a "kid" and being an adult, or the conflict of being who they are versus being who they are told to become.
In working with adolescents I feel able to connect with them on these levels and to empathize with their realities. Working
with Adolescents sometimes involves working with their families to help resolve issues and/or patterns as well.
MEN'S ISSUES:
Men have lots of unique pressures and stresses because of the various roles they must often play:
Father, Money-Maker, Husband/Partner, etc. All of these are not only distinctly important, but they are time and energy consuming,
and Men can feel disconnected and lonely. I see individual Men and help facilitate Men's Groups.
PEOPLE
IN CRISIS:
I feel people in crisis are wonderful to work with because they are at a point of HUGE potential. While I
am very conscious that people in this space are in great pain, I am also aware that when individuals learn to work through
their crisis, they may learn to live better, love more, and often can become fully actualized people.
ARTISTS
AND MUSICIANS:
As a professional musician for many years, I have personal experience of the struggles individuals face
related to their passions. These struggles are more than the day-to-day trials of finding work, money, et cetra, they are
also struggles about the meaning or value of a work or project. I personally see artists and musicians (poets, etc.) as people
essential to our society and feel honored to work with them.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MAJOR LIFE TRANSITIONS:
Life sometimes presents major challenges and, while these may be very difficult, I also see them as an immense opportunity
to grow. I have worked for almost a decade with individuals experiencing major transitions and I continue to be inspired.
DISABILITIES (or Individuals dealing with a disabled family
member):
I frequently work with individuals from this population, but I have two personal experiences with this as well.
I was disabled for one year and diagnosed with a disabling condition which was not supposed to heal. (It eventually did.)
Additionally, I have spent the past 10+ years understanding and helping out a close family member who became disabled in his
lifetime. These unfortunate experiences have given me great insight and experience on how to help and empower individuals
in the community who are referred to as "disabled".
ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder):
ADHD, while often a difficult diagnosis for people in schools and/or in society,
has many potentially-beneficial qualities as well. My belief is that most people with this label can learn to function well
in society, as well as to access the special qualities they have because of this condition. People with ADHD, while they may
get into trouble a lot, tend to be highly creative individuals with LOTS of potential to be leaders.
