One aspect of my work is to reach an understanding of what each family or individual already knows, to understand where they are experiencing difficulty, and to offer new ways of approaching problems. This process assists each individual or family to move forward toward their goals for change or problem solving.

While there are many psychological approaches that have been found to be helpful, there are a few which I tend to utilize more frequently because of both the scientific evidence that shows their effectiveness as well as my experience with them. One is Cognitive/Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT often provides a new way for individuals to understand what is the cause of their difficulties as well as to provide tools for addressing those problems. Another approach that I find very helpful is Mindfulness. Mindfulness, in very simplistic terms, is the skill of being able to be present in the current moment. Both scientific research and my experience suggest that this simple concept can be extremely helpful as we go forward in living our lives.

An important part of my work over the years has been focusing on parent/child relationships. I have frequently found that children and their parents can improve both their relationship with each other as well as their individual functioning. This occurs when specific approaches to the relationship are introduced and become part of the pattern of the relationship they have with each other. While there are many aspects to this issue, two that have seemed of critical importance are mutual respect and a commitment to a process of learning.

My work is ultimately based on the principle that no one approach or solution works for everyone. What will eventually be most helpful becomes apparent in a process of mutual collaboration that occurs over time.