Individual  Psychotherapy

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Individual psychotherapy is a confidential one-on-one weekly meeting with the psychologist to discuss ways to help you resolve mental or emotional difficulties such as depression or anxiety, interpersonal or family problems, personality problems, adjustment difficulties, grief recovery, rehabilitation, or when psychological factors may affect physical symptoms such as pain.  It is a professional relationship with an expert in behavior, cognitive processes, psychological & psychopharmacological interventions, and mental disorders.

Psychotherapy is intended to help the individual patient reach a better understanding of specific problems and, at times, work toward resolution of this problem, symptom relief, improvement in day to day functioning, or simply offer support in problem solving.

Individual psychotherapy is a joint effort between the psychologist and the patient to alleviate the problem.  Progress depends on many factors such as the complexity and duration of the problem, the skill of the psychologist, the motivation of the patient, and other life and situational circumstances.  While results cannot be guaranteed, most patients/clients find that they benefit from psychotherapy.

You and I will collaborate and agree on specific goals for therapy such as symptom reduction, improved communication and/or interpersonal skills, ability to return to work, or the like.  Goals will in all likelihood change as the therapy progresses and should be renegotiated accordingly.  The therapeutic approach employed will vary and should be discussed directly with the psychologist.  The approach I employ most frequently is referred to as cognitive-behavioral therapy, a therapeutic approach that targets our belief systems and related behavioral difficulties.