I am a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT) and psychoanalyst in private practice in Reno, Nevada. I have a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Nevada, Reno.
I completed postgraduate training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with the William Alanson White Institute, a respected training institute which advances the tradition of interpersonal psychoanalysis. The Institute’s philosophy toward therapy, which largely characterizes my own view, is that “people, through the enhancement of their own capacities, may more fully cope with the problems of living and the challenges of being simply human.”
My approach to psychotherapy is based in psychoanalytic theory, which originated from the work of Sigmund Freud. Freud, and those who he influenced, believed that our feelings and behaviors are largely governed by unconscious processes, a theory that is well-supported by current research. We often seek therapy when we are in a state of conflict between the part of ourselves that we know and the part of ourselves that is still a stranger to us. We are often in the habit of focusing more on the outer world than our inner world. We learn to listen less to our own thoughts, instincts, and emotions and more to how we “should” think and feel, based on what we imagine others expect of us. In the process, we may have become quite skilled at tuning out and distancing ourselves from honest thoughts and emotions. Anxiety, depression, loneliness, and relationships struggles can all point to a need to turn inward and begin the process of examining our learned ways of relating to ourselves and others. Effective therapy should create an environment that is safe enough to explore difficult problems in living that interfere with our ability to enjoy our lives and relationships with others.
Outside the therapy office, I enjoy cooking, walking, and occasional travel. I also have a passion for standup comedy, both as a fan and performer. I have performed at some of the top clubs in Nevada and California and have had the opportunity to open for some of the country’s top headliners. Some of my favorite standup comedians include Dave Chappelle, Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan, Todd Barry, Norm MacDonald, Rodney Dangerfield, Tom McCaffrey, and Gary Gulman, to name a few.