Hello.  I’d like to welcome you to my online office!

Therapy is always a very personal journey, and it’s been a privilege to serve my clients over the past 20 years.  I believe that each person is unique, and therapy must be a collaborative effort between the therapist and client based upon mutual understanding and respect.  Most of my time has been spent working with individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and existential or spiritual issues.  I’ve continued to be a student of the art of counseling and always employ an eclectic approach based on the individual needs of each client.   I have taught at JFK University in California, Medaille College, and The State University of New York at Buffalo. I am currently offering appointments online using video conferencing and the telephone. 

I typically use a mindfulness based approach with my clients that is designed to treat the common symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression as well as help my clients discover a more balanced and fulfilling way of life.  It seems like almost every day there’s a new research study out showing the benefits of mindfulness on our physical and mental health.     

One of the first major therapies to introduce mindfulness into psychology was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington.  Her Dialectical Behavior Therapy (or DBT) was designed to help individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder and chronic suicidal depression.  DBT has since been adapted for many other common everyday problems as well.  I was fortunate enough to be trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy early on at a research center overseen by Dr. Linehan herself.   Since then I have run DBT skills groups in New Hampshire, California, and New York.  I have now been using Dialectical Behavior Therapy in my work with clients for over 20 years.

Currently I am primarily focused on mindfulness based counseling at the individual level.  I have developed an integrated mindfulness based therapy that includes all the best mindfulness skills I have collected over the years.  Topics typically include relaxation techniques, stress reduction, calming the mind, self discovery and self-esteem, assertiveness and relationship skills, living in the present moment, and how to apply mindfulness to your daily life.  Its always inspiring to see what a difference learning even a few basic mindfulness skills can make in the lives of my clients.  In the end mindfulness is really part of a wellness lifestyle built around living your life in the present moment with awareness and kindness toward yourself.  I would recommend learning more about it if you are interested.

I would be remiss in not mentioning my therapy partner!  She attends every session and very often has something important to contribute.  She is a five year old long haired Akita with more personality than she knows what to do with.  She’s been known to comment on what’s being discussed and 0ccasionally she breaks the office rules as you can see.

I am now offering online therapy and mindfulness training using video conferencing.  Telehealth has become more common in recent years and is a great option for people who might not otherwise have convenient access to effective mental health treatment.  Teletherapy is now covered by most insurances and has become even more important during this COVID-19 crisis.  My services are covered by most major New York State insurances like Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Independent Health, and a private pay fee schedule is available upon request.  I encourage you to reach out if you think I may be helpful to you.