Welcome
If you are on this website you may be hoping to make positive changes in your life.
”My intention is to provide my patients with the highest quality of evidence-based practices.”
Therapy is a collaborative process. When people take a step towards improving their lives, it is vital that they feel comfortable, safe and respected by their therapist.
By building a trusting relationship, I help people to use their strengths and learn how to thrive even in the face of difficult emotions and circumstances.
Approach
I offer treatment for adolescents and adults who are experiencing struggles in their lives. All human beings suffer and face challenges. It is my goal to help people focus on their inherent strengths and value so that they can live a meaningful life even when challenges arise. My approach can best be described as a blend of cognitive-behavior therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and compassion practices.
Treatment Areas
Cognitive - Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) helps people to change patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are causing them emotional distress. Patients learn how their thoughts can cause them to feel anxious, depressed or angry. Habitual reactions to situations are explored and people learn to replace maladaptive behaviors with more effective ones. Because thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected, therapy focuses on interventions at different points in that cycle.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness can be defined as being aware of what is happening in the present moment, in a non-judgmental and accepting way. It helps people to recognize their habitual thinking patterns and behaviors. Mindfulness practices have a wide range of scientifically supported benefits for both physical and mental well-being. There is also a good deal of research supporting the connection between mindfulness and healthy changes in the brain.
Compassion Practices
Compassion practices are intentional activities or mental exercises designed to cultivate feelings of empathy, kindness, and concern for oneself and others. These practices help develop emotional resilience, improve relationships and increase a general sense of well-being.
Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA)
Currently, along with my colleague Kristin Bruning, MD I’m co-teaching an Introductory Mindfulness class from MIEA (formerly Koru Mindfulness). MIEA teaches how to calm the mind and body, to make clearer choices and become more compassionate to ourselves and others. We teach the basics of mindfulness meditation along with other practices to help our clients build the skills to reduce stress and encourage joy.
Mental Health Support
BEST THERAPY FOR TEENS TO TWENTYSOMETHINGS
A Parent’s Guide to Finding Mental Health Support
by Anthony Pantaleno, PhD and Barbara Edell Fisher, PhD
Finding Best Therapy takes parents behind the scenes into the process of understanding the business side of mental healthcare, providing a tutorial on the basics of different psychotherapy models, and ultimately guiding the reader through the maze of finding the right outpatient psychotherapy provider for their adolescent or twentysomething adult child.
