I hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from University of Iowa. I am professionally affiliated with the National Association of Social Work and Association of Oncology Social Work.
My approach to therapy is primarily systemic. Systems theory seeks to address people not at an individual level, as is often the focus of other forms of therapy, but as people in relationship, dealing with the interactions of groups, their patterns and dynamics. Generally some disruption within your personal system, such as an illness, loss or death, brings you to therapy. Examining the relationships that are in your everyday life—friends, family, co-workers and communities—help determine what you would like to work on to give you better coping strategies.
I also use psychodynamic methods to help determine how you learned to deal with everyday life. Most of our adult behaviors are rooted in how we grew up and values we were taught as children. By discussing the past, we can understand the present and how to make changes in our thinking and behaviors for the future.
Most symptoms are adaptive. There are usually very good reasons why people are operating in ways that may not make sense to themselves or others. I work with my clients to deepen their understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Over the course of treatment, this collaborative process can lead to positive change and self-growth.