How I work

A favorite professor early in my clinical training (almost four decades ago) explained that therapists really devise a specific therapy collaboratively with each client, according to their needs.  This is truly how I work.  Throughout my years of experience, I have been fortunate to work with many clinicians and take lots of continuing education from which I have learned many different theories, techniques, methods, approaches to therapy -- Psychodynamic, Gestalt, Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Brainspotting, Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy, Gottman Couples' Therapy, among others.  I bring the richness of all those perspectives and ways of working to each encounter, working with you to find what works best for your uniqueness.

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Expect me to start by listening.  I will ask you questions to learn about the challenges and strengths of your relationship, and I'll observe your communication style to assess how to best help you.

MY STYLE

In general, I'll provide lots of interaction, feedback, coaching, and direction.  I will not sit silently letting unproductive or damaging interactions proceed.  I may have opinions, and may share them with you, but mostly my job is to help you understand each other, and communicate.  I'm an open and calm influence with you. 

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MY APPROACH

I have a scalable approach that will allow you to quickly tune up your communication skills with some basic research-based techniques.  Then, if you want to go further, I'll use a combination of Gottman and EFT approaches to further enhance your bond and help your relationship to function better.  If you want to go further still, I bring in Gestalt, Existential, Phenomenological, and other approaches -- and for those who are open to it, we can discuss if Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy matches your goals and whether you might be a good fit.

Especially at the beginning, I recommend homework.    

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As a person....

If it helps to know:  I'm a mixed-race, mature gay man in a long term interracial relationship.  I'm poly-friendly, kink-friendly, LGBTQIAH -friendly, social-, gender-,  and racial- justice allied (yes, woke).  I'm a former software engineer, consultant, instructor, a dog dad, an aspiring artist-musician, and love the outdoors and all kinds of activities in the wild. My favorite human characteristics are those I try to embody:  Kindness, curiosity, and honesty.  I tend to be quite interactive as a therapist.  If you're curious to know more of my professional background, here's my linkedin profile.  I'm working on building out more of a social media presence-- coming soon.  Anything else -- just ask.  I probably won't mind answering if it is helpful.​​