About Me and Treatment Philosophy
I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Georgia State University. Most of
my clinical experience at Georgia State was with children and adults at a
public mental health center in Atlanta, and my internship was completed at
the Student Counseling Center of Virginia Commonwealth University in
Richmond. Much of my expertise as a psychotherapist is informed by the 15
years I worked as a psychiatric nurse before and during graduate school. My
nursing background gives me a comprehensive and holistic understanding of
both the psychological and biological aspects of behavior, as well as
training in relevant areas of health care. I have integrated the knowledge
and experience gained in all of my endeavors into a multifaceted approach to
helping my clients. Thus, my treatment philosophy reflects my academic,
clinical, and personal experiences. I view my clients holistically and have
an in depth knowledge of various medications. I also have the ability to
effectively collaborate with psychiatrists, physicians, and other health
care providers.
I believe most individuals realize the need for a psychotherapist’s help
when they encounter difficulties engaging in the flow of life in regard to
relationships, work, or the ability to experience pleasure. Most people need
to feel significant connections to others and to engage in the world in
meaningful ways. My eclectic experience has familiarized me with a broad
range of psychological approaches. I draw upon the Interpersonal/Relational,
Psychodynamic, and Cognitive Behavioral schools of Psychology to inform my
treatment philosophy. Over the years, I have also developed the “artistic”
aspects of being a psychotherapist in addition to the scientific. I believe
an empathic attunement to my clients is just as important as intellectual
competence.
As a psychotherapist, my main initial focus is Interpersonal. My goal is to
create a respectful and safe environment in which a client can seek my
guidance. I highly respect the strength it takes to open one’s life to a
stranger and ask for help. Early in treatment, I also assess the quality of
my client’s support system since social support tends to serve as a buffer
from the negative effects of stress and trauma.
My knowledge of Psychodynamic theory helps me determine the usefulness of a
childhood history focus in working with an individual client or couple.
Client preference is also important in making this determination. I do not
automatically assume that every client needs to make his or her childhood a
major focus. However, there are times when the past is adversely affecting
the present and impeding moving forward in life.
A Cognitive Behavioral approach involves helping clients develop more
adaptive ways of thinking about a problem or their lives while also
developing more constructive behaviors. Habitual, maladaptive thought
patterns and behaviors often play a big role in keeping clients feeling
stuck or unhappy, especially when there is limited awareness of these
patterns. Working with thoughts and behaviors is almost always a part of my
work with clients. It involves the practical life application of what is
learned during psychotherapy sessions.
I am often asked about my style of psychotherapy. I am an interactive
therapist. I listen well and believe in having a dialogue with my clients. I
ask questions, give feedback about specific issues, and share my knowledge
of healthy behaviors. I also respect the self knowledge people have gained
from their life experience. My approach involves helping clients rely on
their current strengths and also developing new resources or coping skills.
I often help clients develop a greater appreciation for the individual
differences between people in regard to temperament, defense mechanisms, and
learned behavior. This is particularly important in couples counseling.
However an appreciation for differences and for one’s individual uniqueness can
diminish individual suffering by helping clients accept both the positive
and negative aspects of their strongest personality traits and use these
more adaptively. I also highly value goal setting . Since many people begin
therapy feeling overwhelmed, one of the first treatment tasks is to
establish goals and objectives. This can break down diffuse problems into
manageable parts. Throughout the psychotherapy process, I ask for client
input, so together we can evaluate objectives and refine them as needed.