Therapy & Counseling

My method derives from my study of the values found universally in traditions throughout the world that respect the enormous resources for healing within each individual. Simply stated, the core principal of my therapeutic work reflects my view that, no matter what the nature of our conflicts, the presence of painful emotional symptoms reflects above all a calling to change and grow. This task, I believe, is the most difficult and most worthwhile in our lives.

I utilize a combination of methods, including analytically-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, meditation, dream work, and interactive therapy with couples. I attempt to tailor my method of working to the specific needs, and problems, of patients, rather than clinging to any particular therapeutic "orthodoxy" or school. My goal as a therapist is to help patients to better live their lives, not to verify my own prejudices or predispositions.

In our first consultation, I will try to determine whether, and how, we can best work together and discuss with you the objectives of our therapeutic work, as we are best able to articulate them. If I feel I cannot be helpful to you with the particular issues involved, I will make every effort to refer you to someone else who can better assist you.

Although I prefer to meet with clients, at least initially, in person, I am also available, where expedient, to meet with clients by Zoom.

It is fundamental to my personal philosophy to work only with clients whom I sincerely feel I can assist in dealing with their problems: I am not interested in counseling primarily as a "business," but as a way to help people lead more fulfilling, less stressful and anxiety-ridden lives, and to remove factors that impede their realizing their life goals. My primary areas of interest and specialization are:

• Issue-oriented short-term counseling
• Couples counseling (also involving cross-cultural relationships)
• Stress-induced anxiety and meditation practice
• Panic disorder and post-traumatic stress syndrome
• Mid-life career and emotional issues
• Issues involved with grief and mourning
• Men and women's issues related to aging
• Issues involved with blocked creativity and creative personalities
• Dream work and journal writing
• Parenting issues and creative co-parenting
• Career change issues
• Lawyer-related stress and other psychological issues

I come to therapeutic work with years of experience working with mostly expatriate clients in France, Germany and Israel (I was also a Fulbright Professor in Hungary for 3 years), as well as three years' experience as an individual and group psychotherapist at The Cambridgeport Problem Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

My own interest in psychology grew, firstly, out of my conviction that the world is, as the poet Keats said, "a vale of soul-making," and out of my desire to help others address, and deal with, problems life has sent their way. My career led me first to become a lawyer, then a published poet, novelist, essayist and memoirist (I am former Director of Creative Writing at Harvard). My own experiences in both Freudian and Jungian analysis deepened my interest in psychology, and led to my desire to become a practicing therapist.

While at Harvard, I began my studies at Harvard with the renowned psychologist Erik Erikson and psychiatrist John Mack, as well as in the PsyD Program at Antioch University. In the course of my years in Cambridge, I lectured to psychiatrists and psychologists at Cambridge Hospital on the effects of unsuccessful mourning and wrote several essays on psychoanalytic theory.

Recently I have also completed formal training, and received certification, in Eye Movement De-Sensitization and Re-processing (EMDR), a technique which has been proven to be particularly effective in dealing with post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and panic disorders. I have also continued and expanded my own more spiritually oriented studies with the noted spiritual teacher, Eckhard Tolle, at New York's Omega Institute, and with Byron Katie at the Kripalu Institute, and at the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts. In June of 2008, I was the featured speaker and presenter at the National Conference for Journal Therapy in Denver, Colorado and attended the first World Congress of Positive Psychology in Philadelphia in June of 2009.

I always take the commitment of entering into a treatment contract with a client seriously. Once I accept someone for treatment, I commit myself to standing by that person: to spend all the time and energy necessary for resolving my client's issues; and, most of all, to relate to the client in an intimate, authentic manner. Needless to say, all client identities and conversations are held in the strictest confidence.

Though I tend to charge a basic hourly fee (some couples work and EMDR sessions can require 1-1/2 hour sessions), I do, on rare occasions, utilize a sliding scale for patients (and students) in financial stress and need. This issue can also be discussed during our initial interview.

*Reduced fee for initial consultation.