I am licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing psychotherapy in Woodland Hills, California. I have had a thriving practice, helping individuals, couples, and families, and offering psychotherapy and life-coaching services.
My mission is to provide the highest level of expert care to my clients in a comfortable confidential setting. My goal is to provide my clients with tools they can use on their own to cope with intense emotional experiences, stressful situations, and tough interpersonal problems in the future. I move beyond symptom relief and often target productivity, life satisfaction, goal achievement, and improved relationships- once clients determine what is personally meaningful.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
I strongly emphasize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) as well as traditional behavioral therapy to address depression, anger management, anxiety, addiction, and relationship issues. In addition to Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) I utilize other theoretical orientations such as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavior Therapy (BT) techniques specifically suited to each individual client. This cognitive behavioral approach helps clients efficiently overcome current problems, whether they are acute or long-standing anxiety, anger, addiction, depression symptoms, or work, weight or relationship problems.
Below are brief descriptions of problems that can be treated in my practice using the behavior therapy techniques mentioned above:
Addiction Treatment - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown to effectively treat drug addiction and alcohol abuse.
Anger Management - Anger management problems can be very serious. If you have anger issues, you may be having trouble with relationships at home or at work. I can offer CBT for anger that is targeted and effective. Anger management clients set concrete goals and are given cognitive behavioral tools (CBT) to manage anger episodes.
Compulsions - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can be used to address compulsive behaviors of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) or other compulsions by teaching new ways of thinking and developing coping tools to manage emotions and urges. While OCD and compulsions are incredibly distressing, they are typically very responsive to cognitive behavioral treatment, as are many of the anxiety disorders related to OCD.
Depression - Symptoms can vary greatly, but can include apathy, hopelessness, and difficulty sleeping or wanting to sleep all of the time, guilt, anxiety, loss of appetite or overeating, lethargy, changes in libido, and loss of pleasure. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown to effectively treat depression. Major Depressive Disorder responds very well to a number of depression treatments I utilize, e.g., cognitive therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavioral Activation Therapy.
Work Issues - Anyone living in Los Angeles understands difficult commutes, expensive housing costs, and long work hours. There is even evidence that contact with crowds in areas of dense population can be stressful. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) provides clients with tools for managing stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques can efficiently provide clients with methods for changing their emotions, physiology, and ways of thinking.
Dysthymia - Dysthymia is a mood disorder similar to depression. The symptoms of dysthymia may be a little less intense, but unfortunately they tend to last much longer than those of clinical depression, i.e., major depressive disorder. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can reduce the pain of dysthymic disorder, i.e., dysthymia.
Bipolar Disorder - Suffering from Bipolar Disorder can feel like a never-ending rollercoaster-ride emotionally for both you and your loved ones. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown to help those with depression and bipolar disorder, especially when combined with the proper medication.
Anxiety Disorders – Anxiety treatment can be very effective. Anxiety has many forms and many related disorders, e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In my private practice I use scientifically supported treatments for anxiety, there is good reason to believe your (or your loved one's) anxiety symptoms can begin to improve very soon.
Grief - If you find yourself unable to resume your life after losing someone, if you experience depression, hopelessness, lack of focus, sadness, isolation, sleeplessness for an extended period of time, finding someone who can help you move on and find a way to live a fully functioning life can be crucial (while still honoring and remembering your loved one). Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown to effectively treat complicated grief.
Procrastination - Whatever the underlying cause, you can learn how to act in line with your goals and values despite the tendency to procrastinate. CBT can also help you figure out the underlying reasons for your procrastination and develop effective strategies to achieve your goals moving forward.
Couples Therapy - If you are in a relationship that is affected negatively by arguments over finances, jealousy, parenting, infidelity, sexual satisfaction, goals and values, schedules, division of labor, or other family members, couples therapy can help. Couples therapy can help both individuals with depression, anger, and anxiety symptoms, as well as improving communication, intimacy, and overall relationship satisfaction.
Family Therapy - Behavioral Family Therapy has been proven effective in the treatment of family issues. In therapy, you can learn how to identify the behaviors that maintain the problems in your family and choose more effective behaviors that are in line with your goals and values.
Child Behavioral Problems - Children can experience a range of psychological and behavioral problems including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, defiance, school refusal, autism, aggression, social and performance anxiety, eating disorders, academic problems, and trauma. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of child behavioral issues.
ADHD (ADD) Treatment - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by behaviors that lead to academic and work difficulties, as well as social problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be used to treat both child and adult ADHD.
Binge Eating - Binge Eating Disorder is now an official psychiatric diagnosis and it is reimbursable by insurance companies. If you consume a large amount of food in a short amount of time beyond the point of fullness, I can help. Binge eating results in weight gain, and can put you at risk for many medical problems. Fortunately, Behavior Therapy and CBT are highly effective treatments for this disorder.
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) - OCD is an anxiety disorder, in which obsessions and compulsions cause significant emotional pain and/or impair an individual’s ability to function in different areas of his or her life. While OCD is an incredibly difficult disorder to experience, the good news is anxiety treatments are highly effective for OCD. Psychotherapy can help.
Panic Disorder - Even though panic attacks can be incredibly painful, they are also one of the most treatable of all psychological disorders. In my private practice I use evidence-based anxiety treatments and can help you improve your symptoms very soon.
Insomnia - Insomnia, which is difficulty obtaining a good night's sleep, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep through the night, or early wakening. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is more effective than sleep medications for the treatment of insomnia.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - The symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often develop weeks after the actual trauma and can surprise the sufferer who thought that they have moved on. If you are suffering from PTSD, getting help in very important as these symptoms can severely interfere with your quality of life and well-being. While PTSD can invade every area of your life and experience, there is hope. PTSD is very responsive to CBT and Behavioral Therapy. If you, or a loved one, are suffering in silence or coping in unhealthy ways, please consider calling me (818)448-2753.
Social Anxiety - Social anxiety can cause extreme discomfort in social situations and can interfere with one’s ability to make friends, maintain relationships, and get to know people at work or one’s personal life. Anxiety treatment of social anxiety can help you not only reduce the anxiety, but learn to be more confident in your communication skills. You can learn to be more effective socially and in work settings.
Stress Management - Because our current Los Angeles lifestyle produces a lot of stress, learning stress management is crucial in LA to anyone craving health and a satisfying life. I am here to help you with that. CBT along with relaxation, visualization, guided imagery, problem-solving and time management skills can effectively reduce your stress.
Worries - Excessive worrying, also known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, can be accompanied by depression, OCD, social anxiety, and phobias. Since in my practice I utilize scientifically supported anxiety treatments for excessive worrying, there is good reason to believe your problems can begin to improve very soon.
If you need to ask questions, call me (818)448-2753. I will be happy to help.