I have 20 years of experience working with in-patient behavioral health patients and have been in private practice for 12 years. Counseling and clinical services include help for individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing anything from everyday stress, acute emotional crisis, or persistent mental illness. I am skilled in working with clients that have recently been discharged from in-patient or partial hospital programs. Services for addiction problems are limited, and are only covered if secondary to a mental health condition. While learning about each client's difficulties, I offer problem solving options and coping techniques. I take a common sense educational type of approach to counseling/therapy. Together we will identify problem areas, focus on strengths, and come up with solutions. I focus on three main elements of positive change: awareness, determination, and action planning. Positive changes are most likely to occur, and be maintained, with these three components in place. Clients are empowered to recognize unhelpful ways of handling things and replace them with positive techniques and improvements. I am an out-patient mental health psychotherapist (licensed clinical social worker). I provide counseling/psychotherapy and education to: individuals (age 10 & up); couples; families; & occasionally groups. I enjoy helping people overcome life's challenges. Treatment approaches are always confidential and comprehensive (education, prevention, intervention, and treatment).