I am a private practitioner. This gives me the opportunity to work with you in ways that could be far different from someone who works for an agency or counseling center.
This can provide the following benefits to you:
- You will experience a greater degree of confidentiality when you come to my office.
- I can provide you with a “treatment” experience that is more personalized and tailor-made to your unique needs and circumstances. I have much more flexibility in the ways in which I can work with you. No “cookie cutter” approach here.
- I have “progressed” to private practice, in part, because of the many (30) years of experience I have had in the field of psychotherapy, and due to the significant and varied knowledge I have accumulated over this extended period of time. This knowledge and experience – in addition to my personal growth – has resulted in a higher level of professional competence and ability. Much is at stake in establishing and maintaining a close working relationship with a therapist. It is so important to be in a safe and trusting therapeutic situation where the benefits are increased as much as possible, while the risks are reduced as much as possible.
My professional training and background:
- I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, in 1969, from Queens College of the City University of New York.
- I received my Master of Science degree in School Psychology, in 1972, from City College of the City University of New York.
- In 1982, I graduated from a three-year full-time, postmaster’s degree psychotherapy training institute – at the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute in New York City. This was an AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) Approved Training Program. I became a Clinical (full) Member of AAMFT in 1982.
- From 1982 to 2000, I worked as a therapist for several counseling centers, as an independent contractor, in both New York and Florida.
- In 2001 I started my private practice when I became licensed in Florida as a Marriage and Family Therapist. In 2006 I received my CAP (Certified Addiction Professional) in Florida, and in 2008 I was certified as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).
My two main professional passions – and areas of expertise, therapeutically – are working with couples, and working with individuals. In particular, I have had much experience working with people who have, or have had, problems related to the use of alcohol and other drugs. I also have much interest and experience in the areas of trauma and bereavement.
Over the course of thirty years practicing psychotherapy, I have had much experience dealing with a wide range of problems and challenges. I believe that in order to be a good specialist one needs to be a good generalist. People are highly complex and unique. An effective therapist needs to know a great deal about so many things.
Doing therapy can be considered to be both a science and a craft (or art). It often involves establishing and maintaining deep and personally meaningful relationships with one’s clients. Caring, compassion, respect, sensitivity, and empathy are essential ingredients that a qualified therapist brings to his/her work with clients. So much about the healing of people’s accumulated wounds involves a profound bonding with the experiences of these individuals. A capable therapist accompanies his/her clients on an often difficult, yet richly rewarding, journey towards a more fulfilling, hopeful, and productive life and future.
