My first goal as a therapist is for you to feel both seen and understood—the good things about

you, the not so good, the problems, the potential. My second goal is to create a space where

you can slow down, reconnect with yourself, and begin to respond — rather than react — to

the challenges of being human. Whether we’re working on habit change, or dealing with

relationships, or managing serious mental health challenges, my overall goal is to help my

patients realign their actions, values, and life demands in a way that allows them to free

themselves from their suffering. Clinically, I draw from developmental theory, behavioral

psychology, and existential philosophy.

All living things have a normal path of development from conception through early growth, into

maturity and old age. Developmental psychology is the study of the forces, internal and

external, that influence and shape us along this path. Because humans are social creatures with

complicated emotions and ways of communicating, developmental theory is especially helpful

in understanding how trauma, adverse circumstances and unsupportive childhood caregivers

can have such long-term effects on our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. This perspective not

only helps provide insight into the “unconscious” dynamics that influence us, but also with

identifying the social and emotional traits we can be more aware of to become more genuinely

ourselves, and to find more fulfillment in our relationships.

Behavioral science forms the foundation of most contemporary evidence-based therapies and

is an especially helpful place to begin when addressing things about yourself you’d like to

change. Behavioral methods are structured, goal-focused and individually tailored, helping

people develop the skills to respond differently to triggers, to make more conscious choices,

and to build healthier habits. The approach is pragmatic, meaning success is measured in terms

of reductions in the behavioral patterns and symptoms of distress and dysfunction that brought

the patient to therapy. And it’s highly effective when applied with purpose.

But science alone doesn’t solve everything. When people deal with loss, moral dilemmas,

problems that can’t change, or questions of purpose or identity, the mode of therapy becomes

less structured, more open. Questions are sought that allow you to explore the roots of who

you are, or should be. This process entails questions that have bedeviled humanity for ages, and

this therapy may involve deep ethical or spiritual quandaries. As a longtime student of

philosophy, religion, culture, art, and history, I welcome ideas from all domains of life into these

conversations.

We live in a time of deep uncertainty and stress. But in all the mayhem and confusion, new

understandings of human potential have also emerged. Interestingly, we’re living in a moment

where behavioral science and ancient contemplative practices have converged into evidence-

based methods that help people regulate their nervous systems, develop greater self-

awareness, and recover a sense of engagement and purpose in their lives. Once learned, these

skills provide powerful means to deal with the stress and distress of the world today, leveraging

a more present-focused awareness into a more fulfilling existence. All my patients report that

they benefit from learning these practices, and they’re easy to learn.

I treat the spectrum of mental disorders with expertise in addiction, trauma, anxiety, and co-

occurring conditions. I’ve practiced in public and private outpatient clinics, VA medical centers,

primary care settings, and community programs. I also conduct research with health technology

and stay up to date on devices and software that are available for my patients, as well as the

best ways to use them. I have significant experience developing residential treatment programs

and digital behavioral health tools for use in healthcare, education, government and military

systems.

Whatever brings you to therapy — a quiet ache, a disruptive crisis, or even serious mental

illness — I will meet you with genuine positive regard and the latest clinical science. My role is

not to judge or fix you, but to help connect you with the capacity for healing that already exists

within you.