Methods Made for You: Everyone is different. As unsurprising as this fact might be, failing to keep it mind can lead to a lot of unnecessary frustration in therapy. I spend time during the first few meetings learning who you are so I can craft my approach to you—-in your particular situation. That way you’re getting the kind of help that feels right for who you are. Therapy is also a collaborative process. It’s by talking about what feels important to you that we’ll work to change what’s troubling you most. In keeping with this, I always start with whatever difficulties feel the most pressing to you—and work from there.


Methods that Work: There’s a corollary to the unsurprising truth that everyone is different: People are complicated. Sometimes the reasons for our behavior are unconscious (automatic, reflexive). I always consider these less obvious reasons for the problems in your life –and point them out when I see them.  (This perspective is sometimes called psychodynamic.) At the same time, in therapy, as with anything, some things work and some don’t. So I also draw on evidence-based approaches: If research proves a particular technique works best with anxiety or depression, I use it—even as I’m thinking about the deeper issues in your life.


Methods that Help: I have no illusions that change can ever emerge simply by striving for a greater depth of understanding or self-awareness. Old habits die hard, so I usually emphasize building new skills, and encourage you to try them out, whether it’s in your relationships, in your daily routines, or in your career—in short, in as many situations as possible. And although I always strive to understand what’s causing you distress, I’ll also work, whenever possible, to provide you with some immediate relief from whatever pain you’re struggling with at the moment.