I am presently offering teletherapy to couples and small family groups. My physical office is in North Berkeley.
My PhD is actually in couples and family therapy. For over 35 years in private practice I have been working with mostly couples, primarily using CBT, and taking a deep look at the influence of multigenerational family messages and style differences. I'm collaborative and interactive.
My work with couples focuses on the idea that misunderstandings lead to taking things personally, feeling rejected and further breakdown in communication. These hurts lead to anger, disrespect and resentment taking up so much space in the relationship, there is often no room left for connection and intimacy.
By clearing out enough of the hurt to allow space for respectful interaction, you can tap into your strengths to clearly define for yourself and each other what you need in your relationship to move forward.
I explore your childhood messages about your world, the people in your world and the safety and trust in your world. These messages can have a huge impact on your relationship. Discovering these messages is the core of attachment work with couples and I am especially able to help identify messages which may contribute to fear of rejection and abandonment in relationships.
One of my therapy strengths is teaching, cultivating and encouraging respectful, clear, defined communication. Especially in stressful situations there is usually too much ‘filling in the blanks' with assumptions due to lacking the skills to check out intent and meaning.
My book for couples, Breathing Room-Creating Space to Be a Couple includes many vignettes and you will most likely recognize your own situation described here.
I invite you to call me with any questions you have and to talk about how I can be helpful . . .
