Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy is the cornerstone of psychological services. One in ten individuals can use psychotherapeutic services on any given day. My approach is to problem solve with the client on issues of contemporary concern. The past is only used as a way of understanding the present. Clients need help with here and now issues. Individual psychotherapy may focus on symptom reduction such as stress, pain, anxiety, or it may focus on successful management of problematic events such as marital discord, work relationships, or social interactions.

Most clients come to therapy on a weekly basis unless they have more serious psychological conditions such as severe depression or debilitating anxiety. Specific interventions may include hypnosis, progressive relaxation, and systematic desensitization. Hypnosis is particularly useful for the management of anxiety and physical pain. It is a natural and safe procedure with no side effects. Contrary to popular myths, the client is fully conscience and aware throughout the hypnotic procedure. Progressive relaxation teaches the client to tense and relax various muscle groups so as to relieve tension and stress.

Systematic desensitization is a treatment for phobias that is highly successful. The client is taught to relax and then is exposed to the feared objects in increasing forms of intensity. The anxiety to the feared object is thus extinguished.