Diagnosis of mental disorders is made on the basis of a multidimensional assessment that takes into account observable signs and symptoms of illness, the course and duration of illness, response to treatment, and degree of functional impairment.  This may be done in a single clinical interview, although more than one session is sometimes necessary.  This assessment often results in both a diagnosis and a treatment plan for addressing the condition.

Where counseling focuses on specific events, behaviors or situations that create problems of living, psychotherapy aims more at understanding and treating chronic or debilitating conditions that interfere with one's ability to function normally.  My approach pulls from several therapeutic models, including: 

• Humanistic - emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, free will and strategies for reaching one’s full potential
• Cognitive-Behavioral - recognizes when and where mental processes go awry and focuses on feelings, thoughts and behaviors that occur "here and now"
• Psychodynamic - emphasizes the interpersonal relationship between client and therapist and examines early life events that may have created maladaptive patterns of being in and responding to the world

 While I treat a wide range of clinical issues, I have received specialized training in:

             • Major Depressive Disorder                               • Generalized Anxiety Disorder

             • Panic Disorder                                                     • Adjustment Disorder 

             • Social Phobia                                                       • Bulimia Nervosa

             • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)        • Attention Deficit Disorders (ADHD)

NOTE: Click on any of the above links to learn more about them.