Are you struggling with uncomfortable or painful feelings? Having trouble dealing with or resolving a problem that just won’t go away? Or do you find that you keep repeating the same self-defeating patterns, but can’t seem to break the cycle? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a state-of-the-art, highly effective approach to psychological treatment that has been empirically validated through years of research and is widely accepted as cost effective psychotherapy for many psychological issues. For example, it has been shown to be highly effective in treating such “mood disorders” as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behavior, and other stress disorders, as well as relationship problems, low self esteem, and more. For many years, I have used the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach in my practice, and I have found it to be equally effective with adolescents, adults and seniors.

This focused, problem-solving therapy was developed in the 1970s by Aaron T. Beck, M.D., the founder of cognitive therapy. Earlier in his career as a psychiatrist, Beck practiced from a psychoanalytic tradition and found himself frustrated by the painfully slow progress of his patients. He strove to develop a more direct and potent approach to therapy, which has become widely known as cognitive therapy (also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT).

It’s therapeutic orientation is based upon the premise that what we think influences how we feel, behave, and react to our environment. Cognitive Therapy essentially involves the pursuit of healthy thinking by learning to identify unhealthy and maladaptive thoughts and then empowering ourselves by utilizing tools for changing these distorted “perceptions” to more accurate beliefs that produce emotional relief and more productive behavioral strategies.

In treating a person who is experiencing psychological difficulties, my experience is that the most effective point of intervention is at the level of the person’s thoughts, and that if changes are made in thinking (automatic thoughts, assumptions and core beliefs), changes in emotions and behavior will follow. I often employ behavioral techniques and strategies as needed to enhance the treatment outcome (i.e., anger management, relaxation training, graduated exposure to feared situations, assertiveness training). The course of treatment is typically brief, and people usually experience relatively rapid relief and enduring progress.

WHO AM I?
•    I  have been practicing psychotherapy and counseling for the past 27 years.  For the last 18 years, my practice has been in Westlake Village, California.

•    I have worked with individuals and groups in organizational settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, addiction treatment facilities and healthcare agencies, which has provided me with substantial experience through my work with a wide range of clients.

•     I received my Masters degree from UCLA and my Ph.D. from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.  I am Board Certified in Clinical Social Work and hold Specialty Certification in Gerontology, Hospice and Palliative Care.

•    As an Associate Professor, I have taught classes at the graduate school level at California State University, Long Beach.

•    My professional development includes training in cognitive-behavioral therapy, as well as interpersonal and psychodynamic techniques.  I continue to receive training and experience working with individuals and couples with communication and interpersonal relationship challenges; adults experiencing stress, depression, anxiety and crisis;  seniors requiring life-planning support; and adolescents with adjustment, family and school-related issues and substance addiction problems.

•     I have conducted training on post-traumatic stress and anger management at schools and community businesses.   I am an Employee Assistance Program provider for several local and national companies, and I am an in-network provider for Medicare and many PPO and HMO insurance companies.

WHAT CLINICAL CONCERNS OR DISORDERS DO I TREAT?
My areas of practice include, but are not limited to, the following:
•    Self esteem and/or personal growth
•    Loneliness or relationship issues