|
|
 |
Specialties My specialties include: Relationship problems, substance abuse, trauma, attention deficit disorder, and the psychological distress often associated with physical problems. My relationship therapy may include bi-generational work (adolescents and their parents or adults and their parents), or help with pre-marital, marital, and gay and lesbian issues. My trauma work is with incest survivors, victims of violent crimes, law enforcement personnel, combat veterans, and survivors of other traumatic events such as motor-vehicle accidents, fires and natural disasters. Substance abuse is fairly pervasive as a learned form of self-medication for old trauma, attention deficit hyperactive problems and the stress of living with physical illness or injury. Treatment for chemical dependency is thus incorporated into my treatment of these other conditions. Philosophy I believe that physical and mental health are inextricably intertwined. To impact one is to impact the other. I believe that psychological services therefore need to be predicated on a holistic assessment of physical, psychological, spiritual and social wellbeing. In order to conduct such a comprehensive assessment, the mental health care provider would thus be required to have advanced training in pathophysiology, systems theory, cultural diversity, and interpersonal relations, as well as psychology. Since the goal of psychotherapy is change, I believe consideration should be given to the impact of that change on the client’s primary relationship. Quality services would then entail incorporation of the significant other to the therapy process, if the client sees potential benefit. Occasionally a joint session can be interspersed with individual therapy. Since psychotherapy of sufficient duration has been found to be as effective as psychotherapy and medication (Consumer Reports, Nov., 1995), I believe it should be given priority over medication initially. Exceptions may include cases in which level of functioning is so severely compromised, e.g. in the area of parenting or work performance, that medications are an essential component of efficient treatment. In these cases I believe that medication evaluations should be done concurrently with the initiation of psychotherapy. |
HOME | ABOUT ME | QUESTIONS | SPECIALTIES | MENTAL HEALTH TIPS | 2 VALLEY LOCATIONS |
|