I have been practicing psychology for 25 years. I have worked in a variety of settings, including private practice, college counseling, medical and psychiatric hospitals, and federal prisons. I have also taught Masters-level courses in psychology, supervised doctoral interns, and presented training at the American Psychological Association Convention. There are many styles of therapy which have been proven to work. I utilize a variety of therapeutic styles, using those that best fit you and the reasons you are coming to see me, with an emphasis on cognitive and mindfulness techniques. One of the most important common denominators in effective therapy is the working relationship we develop, and my goal is to establish a warm, collaborative, trusting relationship with you in which you feel understood and accepted. My style is straightforward and practical. Although the practice of psychology requires doctoral training and is based in science, I am 'myself' when working with clients and I dislike fancy jargon or pretentiousness. I love to use a healthy dose of humor in my work. The techniques I use have been shown through research to alleviate a wide variety of psychological difficulties. Besides our working relationship, an essential element of therapy will be to help you figure out how the way you think about things is affecting your emotional state and to make changes in your perspective which help you deal with difficult situations and people, reduce negative feeling states, and promote resilience, flexibility, and happiness. It is also very important to me to identify your strengths and capitalize on them. It's best not to think of psychotherapy as having a doctor fix what's wrong with you. Rather, consider me to be a coach who will assist you, guide you, and cheer you on as you work toward breaking free old patterns and moving forward to achieve a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction with your life.