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AREAS OF SPECIAL FOCUS:

  • Depression / Anxiety​

    • Situational

    • Complicated

    • Chronic 

  • Self / Identity

    • Meaning

    • Purpose

    • Shame

       

  • Relationships

    • Vulnerability

    • Sex & Intimacy

    • Crisis Resolution

  • Existential Issues

    • ​Disappointment

    • Self-Acceptance

    • Spirituality

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Emotions, thoughts, memories, behavioral nuance and mind-body connections are undeniably real and constantly experienced by everyone, but very hard to describe, isolate or quantify. Each therapist develops a unique and evolving approach based on experience, education and the personal and interpersonal capacities of the therapist.  My gift is a capacity for the intimacy of knowing and being known, the ability to see patterns, and to be connected in shared mystery. My training has focused on, but is not limited to, Systems Theory (including Internal Family Systems), Attachment Theory, Cognitive Psychology, Behavioral Psychology, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Evolutionary Psychology, Existentialism, Humanism and Constructivism. Each of these perspectives informs my approach to psychotherapy. I am an intuitive therapist, and I will work collaboratively with you to support your process, and to travel the path with you as much as possible.

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HYPNOSIS

Helping my clients hear and see their own internal, subconscious wisdom is always my objective. The words and images that come from your subconscious mind will mean more to you and stay with you longer than anything you hear from a therapist or read in a book.  Clinical Hypnosis or "hypnotherapy" is not mysterious or dangerous; it is an intentional trance state that allows you to turn down the volume of your internal self-critic and self-consciousness, allowing you to hear your own deeper thoughts, ideas, wisdom, and sometimes the true voice of the resistant or stubborn part of you that doesn't agree with (and isn't cooperating with) your conscious agenda. You will typically remember everything from a hypnosis session, and leave feeling refreshed and in-touch with yourself. Clients may record their hypnosis sessions themselves, or I can record and send to you, upon request.  Sessions are not recorded unless the client asks.

HABIT MODIFICATION

If lifestyle changes were a matter of logic, it wouldn't be so difficult.  For example, smoking is expensive, it smells awful to the people around you, and it's really bad for you!  However, when I've asked people - in hypnosis - why they haven't quit smoking, I get some interesting responses:  "It's the only time I get to be alone" or "I get to feel like I'm still a bit of a rebel" or "I love the nicotine rush."  Given these answers, which often reside in the subconscious, one would have a hard time quitting.  It's a similar story with weight loss: beliefs about who we are and what we deserve (or don't), as well as "parts" of us that care about our appearance (or don't), just to name a couple, must be uncovered and often "negotiated". Doing this work in hypnosis allows you to understand better the subtleties of your implicit motivations, and actually prevent sabotage through collaboration with the"parts" of you that haven't been cooperating.  

GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY

Please contact me to inquire about group therapy options.  I currently have a women's group that meets for 90 minutes every-other Thursday evening from 5:30-7:00 pm.  Group therapy participation requires a general commitment (not inflexible) intended to ensure that the group can develop the bonds and level of connection required for maximum benefit.  Applicants for group therapy will meet with Barbara for a therapy session / interview, and the functioning and guidelines of the group will be explained.  Not all applicants will be a good fit for all groups, but we will explore this together.  Group Therapy allows us to experience explicitly that we are not alone and others can relate to us and care about us.  The group represents and often simulates our ways of seeing and relating with the world around us.   Learning to respect and relate compassionately to people who are different than us is a fundamental part of living in community, as well as developing and maintaining healthy boundaries in friendships. Group therapy can help you see your own style of interacting with others, your reactions, how others react to you, and ultimately help you get more satisfaction from your relationships outside the group.

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