In any given moment, we have two options: To step forward into growth or to step back into safety.

-Abraham Maslow

You find sometimes that a thing which seemed very thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

-Winnie the Pooh

ABOUT

ABOUT ME

I am a psychologist with a private practice in downtown Decatur, Georgia and I work with individuals, couples, and groups. I am available to meet in person or via Telepsychology.

EDUCATION

Furman Uviversity, B.A. 1985
Georgia State University, M.A. 1990
Georgia State University, Ph. D.

SPECIALTIES

Individuals and Couples
Relationship Issues
Stress and trauma
Anxiety disorders
Phase of Life Challenges

EXPERIENCE

I am a Native Atlantan -- I was born here in 1963 and with the exception of a few years have lived here since. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Furman University in 1985 and then returned to Atlanta, working in the mental health field for several years before starting graduate school at Georgia State University in 1987. I began working with clients in 1988 and have been doing psychotherapy since. I have worked in the Counseling Center at Emory University and completed my internship at the Penn State Counseling Center. In 1995 I received my doctoral degree from Georgia State University and went on to do a mix of private practice and college counseling center work at Georgia Tech. For a number of years now I have been in full-time private practice. I am licensed by the State of Georgia and am a member of the Georgia Psychological Association. I am also an Adjunct Clinical Faculty member of the Department of Psychology at Georgia State University and am involved in the training of doctoral students.

MY APPROACH TO PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. Unlike visiting some medical doctors psychotherapy requires a very active effort on your part. I believe that psychotherapy involves looking backwards, looking around, and looking forwards. This is what I mean: I believe that who we are is shaped in important ways by our families and other important people. Understanding this is essential to helping us change but it is not enough by itself. In our work together we can change how those earlier experiences influence "here and now" ways of being in the world and create better ways of relating to those around us. This leads to change in how we live our lives and thus gives us new experiences that create a richer, more fulfilling life moving forward.

It is always difficult to answer questions about exactly how I would work with you in psychotherapy. This is because I tailor what I do to what you need, what your goals are, and the person that you are. I have been trained in many ways of working with people around many different issues. Across the board, however, I work with people in a warm, supportive way that bolsters their internal strengths and resources but that also challenges them and invites change. While helping people feel better as quickly as possible, I also help them grow personally, understand themselves more deeply, have more rewarding relationships, and make deep, lasting change. Creativity, spontaneity, and and sense of humor are important to me and I try to incorporate these into all of my work.

Obviously, feeling better, having a more rewarding life and richer relationships is the ultimate goal of our work. But it is important to understand that psychotherapy is often hard and sometimes even unpleasant. It requires discussing unpleasant or distressing aspects of your life and feeling difficult emotions in the presence of someone else. Sometimes it requires feeling worse before you feel better. I know this process is valuable despite the difficulty; it can lead to better connections, resolution of specific problems, and a significant reduction in feelings of distress.

CONTACT ME

CONTACT

I am not able to accept new clients at this time. If you are a current or former client please feel free to contact me by phone or email about any questions you might have. I make every attempt to return messages as soon as possible -- typically within 24 hours during weekday business hours.