Long-term Treatment for Anxiety and Depression Relationship Counseling in San Francisco

I work with adults and adolescents to resolve issues that cause them distress and suffering. I have experience working with people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnicities. While I strive to find the right approach for each particular client, the work tends to involve some combination of examining the past (to gain insight into the origins of unwanted patterns) as well as focusing on the current issues and making real changes. Often we focus on clarifying and experiencing feelings in order for a person to feel more engaged with life.

I find that this work is often about helping clients develop greater compassion and acceptance for themselves. People are frequently at war with themselves, with finely tuned inner critics eager to pounce at any opportunity and well-developed patterns of directing anger towards themselves. I believe, however, that the more people accept themselves, the more they can become who they truly want to be. The more people struggle with themselves, the more stuck they tend to feel.

I began working with a young man when he was a junior in high school and experiencing depression and isolation. He had few friends and his grades were suffering.

He left therapy when he moved away for college, feeling more confident, socially more active, and excited about his future. It’s a pleasure to hear from him from time to time.

Psychotherapy Areas of Interest