Co-Dependency is a learned pattern of behavior that has its roots in childhood. Poor communication skills, an inability to advocate for your own wants and needs, and poor self-esteem are all part of this pattern of co-dependency. However, these are fixable issues, and understanding your own patterns in relationships is at the core of how you can begin to address them. The only problems in a relationship that you cannot fix are those that you aren’t aware of. I will work with you to illuminate these issues so that you can address them at your own pace.

Over the last 30 years I have worked with clients through all stages of sobriety. However, my most cherished work involves second-stage recovery, where I help those struggling with addiction to rectify the damage done to themselves and others due to their disease. Addiction can take many forms. Whether it is a learned behavior from childhood or a physiological issue manifesting as undesirable behaviors, I will help walk you through the process of reclaiming your life and discovering the inner strength to build healthier relationships.

Stress itself is not good or bad. It is a constant. How we deal with stress is what makes it healthy or unhealthy for us. Over my career I have worked with many clients to provide them with better ways to cope with the stresses of everyday life. I tailor my stress management approach to the unique challenges each person faces.  

Throughout my career I have been particularly interested in supporting those affected by cancer by providing them guidance through all stages of their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. I am intimately familiar with the local resources and specific tools needed to assist cancer survivors through this difficult and life-changing experience. It has been incredibly gratifying to work with these brave and resilient clients and their families.

Adolescence is a tumultuous time in our lives. I provide teenagers with a safe environment to share their struggles with an impartial and trusted adult while simultaneously giving them the tools to improve their relationship with the most important adults in their lives: their parents. One of the most important decisions a young person can make is what they do after high school. I help guide my clients towards choices that will fulfill not only their academic goals, but also their emotional needs.  Working with parents and teenagers during this difficult transition has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

Given the nature of their professions, healthcare providers are under a significant amount of stress and are inclined to give to others before thinking of themselves. I have been working with this population for years and now, more than ever, I hope to offer them a safe space to debrief the emotional impact of their work and how it affects their relationships with others.

I offer therapy for couples, especially for those who are navigating the often difficult process of parenting. Differences in opinion on how to parent a child can be a common source of strife between partners, and helping to support clients through those times has been one of my greatest joys as a therapist. I can offer techniques for how to meet your children where they are and providing a united front as parents while still working to maintain the spark of love in your relationship with your partner.

Through my years of work at Stony Brook University Hospital, and from sessions with the Army National Guard, Boy Scouts of America, various college campuses, nursing homes, and others I have come to appreciate the healing potential of animal assisted therapy. This can be a useful intervention for both individuals and groups of all ages to help provide comfort and assist in the healing process of grief, PTSD, social anxiety, and more.

My extensive trauma training has led me to develop a holistic approach to processing trauma with my clients. Whatever form this trauma may take: a childhood injury, an encapsulated incident in adulthood, or a series of traumatic events, I believe that the brain can permanently heal from these experiences. I employ guided imagery, experiential therapy, EMDR, and other trauma reduction techniques to help my clients on the road to recovering from trauma.