Before you contact me directly, don't worry too much about whether or not I specialize in your specific problem, or whether I am the best therapist for you. This website can only give you a limited amount of information and cannot truly give you a full understanding of who I am as a person and as a professional therapist. The most that this website can do is give you a sense that we MIGHT be a good match. If so, then go ahead and contact me. From there, we will figure out the rest of it together.

I have the competence to offer general suggestions and guidelines for most basic issues. However, research shows that the right match of therapist and client is critical to success. I believe it is my ethical obligation to make an effort to match you to a therapist who has the greatest likelihood of being able to help you. I may not be that person. I only work with people who I believe I am likely to be able to help over time.

I determine my suitability for you based on a combination of factors:

1) my expertise with the type of problem you have or the type of situation you are in;
2) the type of person that you are with your particular needs or preferences;
3) whether my therapeutic approach and style is likely to be helpful for you.

I take referrals very seriously. I maintain a referral network for different specialties so that I can make the best possible referrals. If I have to refer you to another therapist, I will only refer you to someone who I believe is excellent and suited to you in particular.

After our first consultation, even if we decide not to work together, you are at least likely to walk away with new information and emotional support. Research shows that some people feel a sense of relief from suffering after just one consultation with a psychologist.

~ If you want a therapist who gives clear answers to questions and has interactive discussions.

~ If you are uncomfortable with therapists who are silent or emotionally distant.

~ If you’ve never had a therapist before and are afraid of going to a therapist or aren't sure how therapy can be helpful to you.

~ If you want a therapist who listens carefully and pays close attention to what you say.

~ If you want a therapist who focuses on sensing how you really feel inside and what is important to you.

~ If you are self-taught, highly independent, socially isolated as a child, and/or had a lack of emotional support from family members.

~ If your family or friends fail to be objective or cannot provide helpful advice.

~ If you want a private confidential consultation about your mental health that is not part of your medical record.

~If you have mental health issues that need to be discussed with your physician and you want a psychologist to speak to your physician on your behalf.

~ If you want a therapist who respects your own knowledge of yourself.

~ If you want a therapist who recognizes your inner strengths and helps you to build upon that foundation.

~ If you want to improve your knowledge, skills, and abilities over time.

~ If you have a history of achievement and ability but lack confidence, are shy, or insecure.

~ If you are highly sensitive, easily overwhelmed, or afraid of new things.

~ If you want a therapist who is emotionally supportive and encouraging, who has empathy for your experience.

~ If you want a therapist who has a strong yet gentle presence that puts you at ease.

~ If you are easily angered or annoyed, like to be in control, know what you want, and are assertive.

~ If you are originally from the New York metropolitan area, or are new to San Francisco from other locations.

~ If you want a therapist who can provide structure and guidance to meet set goals.

~ Traumatic Experiences and Major Life Changes
When traumatic events or major life changes occur, we can be thrown off balance and severely shaken by the effects. It is normal to be overwhelmed and need a supportive therapist to guide you through the recovery process.
           
I have a particular interest in working with people who are survivors of rape or sexual abuse. When your personal space has been violated, you may lose the ability to concentrate or accomplish anything, lose faith and confidence in yourself and others, have major trust issues, ongoing sexual difficulties, etc.

I worked on the Stanford University research team studying the benefits of therapy for survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse. I also have my own personal experience as a rape survivor. You can download my poem "Ready or Not" here.

~ Stress Management
Ordinary life can sometimes present challenges that are more intense than we feel we can handle comfortably, or there may be an unfortunate timing of events, or particularly difficult situations that increase stress to an intolerable level. I can help you learn to manage stress that is unavoidable, teach you relaxation techniques or healthy stress reduction methods, and help you cope with emotional reactions to the situation that may be making you feel worse.

~ Anxiety and/or Depression
Symptoms of these conditions frequently overlap. For each person, the particular feelings and circumstances are unique. You may have panic attacks, many fears and worries, feel hopeless, demoralized, pessimistic, easily discouraged, or overwhelmed in other ways. You may feel you need to always be in control, may have high standards and feel you must be perfect to be accepted, may have low self-esteem, may be indecisive and procrastinate.

You may have trouble sleeping or find it difficult to calm yourself down when you get upset. You may be in a perpetually bad mood or frequently irritable and critical. You may lack confidence, feel insecure and shy, and/or avoid social situations. There are many forms of this experience.

If any of this sounds familiar to you or even close to your experience, I may be able to help you feel better.

~ Individual Sex and Gender Issues
I am interested in helping people with all issues of sexual orientation (including bisexuality, homosexuality, and heterosexuality), and concerns about sexual fantasies, sex-play activities, or sexual arousal. I am comfortable working with people who have a history of rape or sexual abuse (see more under Traumatic Experiences)
           
I am also interested in issues of gender orientation including how it feels to be male, female, feminine, masculine, transgendered, bigendered, or other terms you may prefer. Sometimes your internal sense of gendered self differs from your external image, or your internal sense does not match society's expectations or assumptions.

~ Relationship Issues
I may be helpful for any of the following types of problems:            

1. Communication issues: problems feeling understood by partner, inability to resolve problems or prevent repeated arguments, inability to get reconnected after arguments or separations.

2. Mixed Matches: Major differences in personality style, family backgrounds, cultures, religions, beliefs, lifestyle choices, etc.

3. Major differences in plans for the future such as living together, marriage, whether to raise children, where to live, etc.

4. Sexual difficulties, differences in sexual desires or preferences, issues of arousal and sex-play or fantasies, etc.

5. Issues of monogamy and faithfulness, or non-monogamy and polyamory

6. Trust issues, history of secrets, lies, betrayal, abandonment, history of traumatization (for example, rape or sexual abuse) or anything that has created fear of intimacy and/or commitment.

7. General patterns of thought and behavior that make it difficult for the relationship to succeed. General uncertainty about staying in a relationship, or wanting to improve the overall quality of the relationship.

8. Before living together or getting married, make sure you are both prepared and ready for your future together.

9. Before you become a parent or bring a child into this world, make sure you are both prepared and ready to raise that child together.

10. Before you get divorced, make sure you have done everything possible to save the marriage and if it must end, develop a plan for the changes in your relationship.

~ Aging and Eldercare
I did a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute on Aging and gained experience with changes that occur in the aging process, such as memory loss, dementia, illness, grief and loss, death and dying. I am also familiar with the concerns of caregivers and family members of the elderly. I can help people understand the changes that their parents may be experiencing and what is involved if they need in-home healthcare, assisted living facilities, conservators, or have other special needs of the elderly.

~ Living with Chronic Medical Conditions, Illnesses, Disabilities:
I have a particular specialty in working with people who have atopic dermatitis (aka eczema), severe allergies, and/or asthma. My dissertation was titled " The Development of Expertise in Self-Management of Chronic Illness: Narratives of Older Adults Living with Atopic Dermatitis, Asthma, and Allergies Since Childhood". I published an article on my own personal experience in the medical journal "Making the Rounds". (You can download this article under the Resume section of this website).

I have also worked with people who have chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, and dementia.

I am familiar with issues of physical and emotional suffering, learning to manage medication regimens, learning how to live with lifestyle restrictions, dealing with feeling deprived of ordinary activities and pleasures, feeling socially stigmatized or isolated, feeling depressed, angry, or easily exhausted.

~ Artists with Creative Blocks
Artistic expression depends upon the ability to stay in flow with the creative process. Sometimes there are stuck places that are not just natural temporary pauses but pits or traps from which you cannot escape on your own. Each artist has their own reasons for this which we will explore.

Some artists find it useful to have a goal for our sessions, such as finishing a project upon which they were already working or creating a new artwork representing the block itself or the transformative process of finding new inspiration. Other artists prefer to have no specific end-product as a goal. The choice is yours. Come as you are. Leave as no one yet knows you will be.

~ Business Owner Issues:
I may be helpful to people who are struggling with the stress of starting a new business, feeling isolated as a sole proprietor, having conflicts with business partners, are trying to change careers or get out of a business.