Services

Individual Counseling

 “The most important relationship is with yourself.”

I am licensed Marriage & Family Therapist practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past 30 yrs. Areas of expertise include those struggling in relationships, personal or work-related, singles who want to or are dating; recovering from addictions - drugs, alcohol, porn, the internet, sex, love, compulsive gambling and co-dependency and who are going through major life-changes.

My eclectic approach centers on mindfulness philosophy and practice, and is based on the principle that therapy grows out of the therapist/patient relationship, that therapy occurs in the context of a strong rapport and alliance. My passion to teach and be a transformative force in the world. I’m always striving to create a space in which you feel safe to look at yourself, open up, experience your authentic essence, discover your ‘higher’ self and feel empowered to make desired changes in all areas of your life. I’d say my style is directive, educational, interactive and client-centered. I will help you get to know yourself, clarify your top priorities, make healthy decisions and act in your own best interests.

Couples Counseling

“A relationship consists of two separate, autonomous entities (me and you) who have built a bridge of understanding that connects them making an (us).”

Couples commonly pursue counseling because of unresolved issues plaguing the relationship, i.e. intense unresolved conflict, communication problems, fear or the lack of intimacy, anger management, affairs, the possibility of separation or divorce, addiction, and codependency. Provides a safe environment to talk openly and honestly about how each one feels towards the other and in the relationship, identify sabotaging behavior and practice intimacy building skills and dialogue. By building a bridge of understanding, their relationship is given new life.

Pre-marital Counseling

“The best investment a young couple can make is in their relationship.”

Research shows that more than half of all marriages end in divorce. The primary contributing factor to relationships not working is the lack of understanding and skills to deal with the challenges that every enduring intimate relationship encounters.

Prepares those planning a future together for the rigors of a lasting intimate relationship. In a safe and structured space, unresolved issues that lie under the surface, and would otherwise be avoided or denied are identified and explored. The couple will learn and practice communicating in a way that deepens their connection to each other and fosters understanding. By openly and honestly discussing each one’s values, goals, wants, needs, difficult feelings, conflicts, differences, expectations, concerns, you will, no doubt be securing a brighter relationship future.

Family Therapy

“The quality of your life is the quality of your (primary) relationships.”

Well versed in systems theory and passionate about family therapy, providing family members the opportunity to talk to each other openly and honestly, perhaps for the first time, about the distance and tension that exists between them, and issues plaguing their relationship. As both people learn to set and maintain clear boundaries, “express the unexpressed,” achieve a deeper mutual understanding, find the love in their hearts, (whether parent/parent, parent/child, sibling/sibling, extended family members and cross generation) they will mend their ruptured connection.

Intervention Consulting and Training

Are you concerned about a loved one you think or know is in throes of an addiction? If you do, feel free to make an inquiry call to discuss how best to proceed.

The most common addictions are to drugs and alcohol, to porn, the Internet, sex, love and compulsive gambling and I also want to include debilitating mental disorders like depression and bi-polar.

Your loved one may be a parent, child, spouse, sibling, friend or co-worker.

The sense that the way you’re dealing with the situation is either not working or you are not helping, or that you’re wishing there is a better way if only you knew what that was, are quite common.

What I will do it take the family members through a three step process. First I provide education so that you gain a better understanding as to what addiction is all about and what we’re trying to accomplish together as a team. Then I facilitate a dialogue so that the family members can speak openly and honestly about their loved one and his/her addiction. Finally, I develop an action plan that will dramatically increase the chances your loved one will seek the help he or she so desperately needs.

For professionals I conduct workshops and on-line CEU’s on The Art of Intervention.

Ongoing Mindfulness Support Group Mondays 10:30 am - Noon - $55/session

Mindfulness exercises and practice have proven to be highly effective means for achieving greater mental and emotional well-being and developing a spiritual program that promotes self-healing and empowerment. This mindfulness-based group offers the opportunity to develop relationships that provide support and safety to share openly and honestly, learn to take responsibility for one’s own self-care and gain the understanding and experience necessary for creating healthy, intimate relationships.

For those whose relationships rife with conflict and ambivalence, who are on the brink of, or recently divorced, or in newly developing relationships; who have unresolved issues with their parents, children, siblings or friends; singles who are lonely and demoralized; who have a history of trauma, struggle with depression, anxiety or bi-polar disorders; and who are dealing with loss and other change of life circumstances. 

Ongoing Recovery Support Group Thursdays 6:45- 8:30 pm - $55/session

For those seeking recovery from substance abuse, porn, the Internet, sex and love addictions, compulsive gambling, as well co-dependency, and who are committed to recovery.

Learn mindfulness principles and exercises to be incorporated into your recovery program and practiced daily. Consider mindfulness as tantamount to a ‘higher power,’ a building block of a spiritual program and powerful tool to be relied upon to achieve and sustain sobriety, feel better and make desired changes in all areas of your as well as overall well-being. Tap into your awareness and discover resources within yourself to cope with the pain that drives addiction and guides your recovery.

The group affords a safe space to share openly and honestly about your pain, struggles, setbacks and lessons learned, and to develop relationships built on trust and commitment and that support your health and recovery.

For more information call: (415) 456-0802