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General Practice.
My clinical practice is open to anyone who wishes to explore his or her life in more depth, to alleviate unhappiness, to reach new potential or to gain greater clarity. I work with individuals, couples and groups presenting with a variety of issues including:
- Sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship distress
- Career stagnation
- Sexual abuse, assault or harassment
Supervision and case consultation is available to professionals.
Specialties
Sexual Problems
Recent surveys have indicated that approximately 25% of men and 33% of women are dissatisfied with their sex lives. In actuality, the numbers may be higher, with many people feeling unhappy and unfulfilled at various points in their lives. When sexual dissatisfaction is persistent or is causing difficulties in your life or relationship, it is time to seek help. Some common sexual complaints include; low sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm, painful intercourse, premature or rapid ejaculation, difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, compulsive sexual behavior, sexual boredom and sexual incompatibility.
Sex Therapy
Sex therapy is psychotherapy that is tailored to sexual problems. If you are in a relationship, going to therapy as a couple can often be the best approach but individual therapy is also an option. I often suggest that both partners come in for an evaluation and to discuss whether couples’ therapy or individual sessions (or some combination of both) makes the most sense. In sex therapy, the client or couple may be given reading material or “homework assignments” which further the therapeutic process and progress. At no time is the client or couple asked to engage in any form of sexual activity in the office. A competent and ethical sex therapist will be sensitive to your moral, religious and spiritual beliefs.
Sexual Orientation
My practice is open and respectful of the diversity of human experience. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and heterosexual couples and individuals are welcomed.
Sexual Abuse
Many women and men have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime. Estimates indicate that as many as one in 5 girls and one in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before their 13th birthday. Studies show that abused children are also more likely to be victimized as adults, which means that they are more often the target of rapes, assaults and harassment later in life. The consequences of sexual abuse vary and depend upon many factors, such as personality type, age when the abuse started, support (or more often, lack of it), who the abuser was and the severity of the abuse. Some people who were abused as children suffer from anxiety, depression, low self esteem, difficulty with intimacy and trust, sexual problems or eating disorders.
Therapy can help you recover from childhood sexual abuse. Recent clinical advances have resulted in techniques that can help speed the process of healing. But the essential ingredient is establishing a trusting relationship with a competent therapist.
Recovering Memories of Abuse
Therapy cannot guarantee that you will recover memories of abuse. While it is sometimes the case that people remember more of their childhood as they talk about it in therapy, there are no special techniques to help people accurately remember forgotten or repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse. A good therapist will not use hypnosis to recover memories, but may use hypnotic techniques to help a patient cope with the anxiety and depression that can result from abuse.
Sexual Problems that Result From Abuse
Since child molestation and incest are violations of a sexual nature, it only makes sense that sexual problems can result. Many abuse survivors are perplexed by the fact that their sexual difficulties persist after their other symptoms have abated. Sexual problems often take on a life of their own. It is not unusual for women and men to go to sex therapy after they have dealt with other aspects of their sexual trauma.
Rape, Sexual Assault and Harassment
The consequences of sexual assault and harassment experienced by adults are often different from the issues that sexually abused children face. However, serious difficulties can and do arise, include severe anxiety (similar to that experienced by combat soldiers), depression, inability to trust and sexual problems. The sooner you seek help the better, but even if the assault is years past, you can still benefit from therapy. Often women and men who were raped feel especially in need of help when they begin to go out into the world again, which can mean dating, marriage, moving, changing jobs or having children. Many sexual assault survivors have great difficulty parenting their children and allowing their children to move out into the world.
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