I am a psychotherapist with offices in San Francisco and Sonoma, California. When people first seek psychotherapy, they may feel perplexed or unsure about how to resolve a difficulty. Frequently a symptom, such as anxiety or depression, or an issue, such as a conflict with a friend or family member, is present. Sometimes an additional problem such as alcohol or drug abuse also exists.

There are many ways a person feels that life's challenges are excessive. At such times self-defeating attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors may predominate. I believe men and women come to therapy looking to get beyond their problems and relieve suffering. Specific help I can offer may include common sense suggestions that fresh eyes can see. Or we may need to take time to understand,"unpack", and examine what is taking place so that solutions can emerge where, at first, none seemed to exist. My working style is interactive. I listen, ask questions, and present ideas designed to facilitate growth as well as relieve symptoms. Therapy works well when the individual or couple feel understood and the therapist uses his understanding to help clients see and experience new possibilities.

By working together in a safe atmosphere, people can remove obstacles and inhibitions that have prevented the attainment of long sought after goals (or sometimes it is the overcoming of more recent problems). When clients discover how they hold themselves back, they are being given powerful information which can benefit their lives. Likewise, when people feel life is daunting, new ways of seeing problems and solutions can create valuable tools with which to work.

My approach to therapy means that I meet people by understanding where their problems come from so I can share my awareness and observations. Our interactions will form the basis upon which a sense of progress can feel real and can become integrated.