I have worked in the mental health field since 1984, with a wide variety of populations and treatment programs. These have included in-patient psychiatric units, family therapy agencies, medical hospitals, chemical dependency programs, partial hospitalization and day-treatment programs, school counseling programs, and private practice. My therapeutic approach is one of in-depth psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Some clients find that using art therapy as a component of the treatment allows greater access to core issues. For many clients the art therapy becomes a valuable means of discovering untapped inner resources and provides a bridge from the unconscious to the conscious. The art therapy modalities include cartooning, collage, three dimensional work, pastels, sculpture, murals, mask-making, and sand tray.
Not all clients choose to include art therapy in their treatment, and those who do are not required to have any previous art experience. I work with a wide range of issues including depression and anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, chemical dependency, bipolar disorders, family conflict, job stress, adult-children and parent issues, grief and loss, and life stage transitions.
Some clients find that using art therapy as a component of the treatment allows greater access to core issues. For many clients the art therapy becomes a valuable means of discovering untapped inner resources and provides a bridge from the unconscious to the conscious. The art therapy modalities include cartooning, collage, three dimensional work, pastels, sculpture, murals, mask-making, and sand tray.
Not all clients choose to include art therapy in their treatment, and those who do are not required to have any previous art experience. I work with a wide range of issues including depression and anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, chemical dependency, bipolar disorders, family conflict, job stress, adult-children and parent issues, grief and loss, and life stage transitions.
Services
Obsession with food and weight are often attempts to cope with unresolved emotional issues such as depression, rage, powerlessness, and loss.
In group or individual sessions, we will employ a variety of art therapy techniques specifically designed to explore the issues that have led to obesity, compulsive eating, binging, purging, starving, or laxative abuse.
Emphasis will be on discovering new ways to nurture oneself.
Previous art experience is not necessary.
Special attention paid to gender issues.
In group or individual sessions, we will employ a variety of art therapy techniques specifically designed to explore the issues that have led to obesity, compulsive eating, binging, purging, starving, or laxative abuse.
Emphasis will be on discovering new ways to nurture oneself.
Previous art experience is not necessary.
Special attention paid to gender issues.
Robin is a thirty year old woman who made an appointment because "I've tried everything and here I am 16 years bulimic and nothing works".
During our first session I provided Robin with a storyboard template, and asked her to draw an animation strip showing the sequence of a typical binge/purge episode.
Robin tearfully commented; When I'm exhausted and depleted after I throw up, then I get to wash my face with a washcloth, turn on soft music and lie down and rest until I'm all better.
It's like I get to be my own mother.
During our first session I provided Robin with a storyboard template, and asked her to draw an animation strip showing the sequence of a typical binge/purge episode.
Robin tearfully commented; When I'm exhausted and depleted after I throw up, then I get to wash my face with a washcloth, turn on soft music and lie down and rest until I'm all better.
It's like I get to be my own mother.
Her anorexia began after she had finished college, several months into her first job.
It started with her desire to lose ten pounds before buying a professional wardrobe.
After she had lost the ten pounds she began to further restrict her food intake, and was pleased with her continued weight loss.
Gradually it took on a life of its own as she began to obsessively count calories until she was down to 85 pounds.
She left her job because she felt to weak to concentrate, and was rapidly depleting her savings while continuing to focus on losing the last five pounds that would provide the perfection that lay just beyond her grasp.
It started with her desire to lose ten pounds before buying a professional wardrobe.
After she had lost the ten pounds she began to further restrict her food intake, and was pleased with her continued weight loss.
Gradually it took on a life of its own as she began to obsessively count calories until she was down to 85 pounds.
She left her job because she felt to weak to concentrate, and was rapidly depleting her savings while continuing to focus on losing the last five pounds that would provide the perfection that lay just beyond her grasp.
Joan was a 42 year old woman who was about one hundred pounds overweight.
Despite a range of health-related problems, including knee trouble and diabetes, she was not able to stick to any weight loss program for more than a few months.
We used a variety of art therapy modalities to explore what might be contained in the self-sabotage.
Joan was both intrigued and frightened by a body outline project I suggested, and it was only after many months of acquiring trust in our relationship, did she feel ready to try it.
Despite a range of health-related problems, including knee trouble and diabetes, she was not able to stick to any weight loss program for more than a few months.
We used a variety of art therapy modalities to explore what might be contained in the self-sabotage.
Joan was both intrigued and frightened by a body outline project I suggested, and it was only after many months of acquiring trust in our relationship, did she feel ready to try it.
Paul left a message asking for an appointment saying "I don't know if you work with men-- I know that this is usually a women's issue-- but I didn't know where else to turn".
He had failed at numerous dieting attempts, and even though his job provided physical exercise, he was unable to keep his weight down.
Recently he had begun to purge after particularly intense eating binges and was terrified that if he kept this up, he wouldn't be able to work at all.
Paul was curious about art therapy, but anxious because he had no prior art experience.
He had failed at numerous dieting attempts, and even though his job provided physical exercise, he was unable to keep his weight down.
Recently he had begun to purge after particularly intense eating binges and was terrified that if he kept this up, he wouldn't be able to work at all.
Paul was curious about art therapy, but anxious because he had no prior art experience.
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