I see therapy as a collaborative process. I am sensitive to the fact that many people who come to therapy have been in situations where they had no control—counseling provides a safe place to talk, to be listened to and to be validated.

The conventions of therapy—time limits, confidentiality, professionalism—create boundaries that provide emotional and physical safety for my clients.

Understanding the client's situation is a process that takes effort on the part of everyone involved. My inclination as a therapist is to be involved and inquisitive to the extent that the client is comfortable in examining the roots of the issue. Often those "roots" are on display in the client's behavior and my role is to help the client recognize what he or she is doing. I am open with what I observe and will put my comments out for the client's consideration.

My approach to therapy focuses on a client's strengths and talents in order to encourage the changes he or she wants to make in his or her life. I employ a listening style that is open, compassionate, and friendly.