About My Practice

What to expect from therapy:

Why do people come to therapy?

The reasons for coming to therapy are varied. I am happy to give a phone or in-person consultation to see how I might best help you or to see if I am the right person to address your goals and needs.

What is your experience and what do you offer?

For the past several years I have worked as a therapist in community clinics serving children and families, inpatient/outpatient treatment facility with chronic mental illness and dual diagnoses, schools K-8, crisis response in-home and in-clinic throughout Santa Barbara County.

I currently work in my private practice serving the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara, and provide individual (child through adult), family, and couples therapy for a range of issues, and my sessions are forty-five to fifty minutes long.

How long will it take?

The length of time depends on various factors. I believe in providing goal-directed treatment. This means that a treatment goal or several goals are established after a thorough assessment. You have the right to agree or disagree with my recommendations. There may be times in therapy where your goals will change. I will also periodically provide feedback to you regarding your progress and will invite your participation in the discussion.

Why do people bring their children to therapy?

The reasons are varied, from issues with school, to relationships at home, or interpersonal relations with peers; sometimes with all and/or on certain occasions and situations. Some examples include challenges with a developmental stage, family transitions, loss, trauma, conflict with others, anxiety, and/or depression. I welcome inquiries and am happy to help, whether that means giving a consult, offering advice, or setting up an appointment to meet.

What is your orientation?

With the client as an individual in mind, I use different interventions as fitting to you and your process. I am interested in how learning, emotion, development, and attachment work together. My overall theoretical orientation is Psychodynamic, Object relations, which I use to organize my thoughts about a case. I have had training in several different theoretical models which enrich and inform my work, including Cognitive-Behavioral, Jungian, Gestalt, Systems, Process, Medical Model (psychiatric crisis/trauma), Play, Feminist, Eclectic, and Psychodynamic, Object Relations.

Briefly and oversimplified, Object Relations is a group of Psychodynamic theories which looks at the conscious and unconscious dynamics in past, present and future relationships with an understanding of developmental needs, attachment styles, and personal frame of reference through which relationships with self, others, and the world are viewed. Looking in-depth at the therapeutic relationship dynamics and how they unfold is part of the treatment. There is more to say regarding this topic and questions are welcomed.

Is this confidential?

All communications between myself and patient are held strictly confidential unless: The client authorizes release of information with his/her signature, the client presents a physical danger to self, the client presents a danger to others, or Child/elder abuse/neglect is suspected. In the latter two cases, I am required by law to inform potential victims and legal authorities so that protective measures can be taken.

Minors and Confidentiality

Communications between therapists and patients who are minors (under the age of 18) are confidential. However, parents and other guardians who provide authorization for their child’s treatment are often involved in their treatment. Consequently, I, in the exercise of my professional judgment, may discuss the treatment progress of a minor patient with the parent or caretaker. Patients who are minors and their parents are urged to discuss any questions or concerns that they have on this topic with me.

Please feel free to call me at (805)598-1281 or email me at hopihmft@msn.com for more information.

Clinical Member of CAMFT

Licensed Member of SBCAMFT