About
My work has focused on families, and I love helping clients work through areas of conflict, misunderstanding, stress, and anger and arriving at improved communication, and a more confident sense of self and appreciation of their own abilities to make change and solve problems that arise. As a home-based family therapist, I worked with a wide variety of clients and their issues. I became more of a "jack of all trades" than an expert in a particular method of therapy. For me, that has meant being responsive to and learning about many different issues clients face, and utilizing a variety of approaches.
My strengths as a therapist are in my ability to listen, and to help uncover patterns of thought and behavior that have not worked well for clients, and to encourage them to try different approaches. A core belief of mine is that the client knows him/her/themself best, and has the capacity to problem solve. I don't "fix" people, I accompany them on their journey for a time, and offer support, guidance and insight as clients tell their stories. My role is to hold up a mirror and shed light on the dynamics and situations that clients bring into therapy. My approach is warm and direct. I appreciate the value of a sense of humor, while respecting the seriousness of client concerns. I am in my mid-seventies - a good euphemism for that is, "I'm a 'seasoned' clinician"!
I went to social work school when my youngest child went to college. Prior to that I worked in a street ministry for urban homeless people; work that I loved, but also found grueling over time. As the parent of five children, and with a strong family life and focus, I found family work to be both a good fit and very rewarding. I have Certificates in Trauma-Informed Therapy, and in Drug and Alcohol Counseling. Attachment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing are other areas of interest and were part of my advanced studies. Recently, I co-facilitated a support group for four years, focused initially on the needs of in-home family caregivers dealing with the ill-health of a partner or aging parent, then shifting to coping with parental relationships with adult children suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse that prevented them from functioning well in the wider world without ongoing parental support.
Sponsored by
Get matched with a licensed therapist and start healing with BetterHelp.
Click HereBasic Data
Entity Type: Individual; Sole Proprietor
Organization Name: Wayside Youth And Family Support Netwrok
Gender
Female
Therapy Specialties
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Family Conflict
- Grief
- Life Coaching
- Parenting
- Relationship Issues
- Stress
- Substance Use
- Trauma And PTSD
Treatment Orientation
- Attachment-based
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
- Trauma Focused
Modality
- Couples
Years in Practice
18 years
Languages
- English
Healthcare Provider Taxonomy
- Code: 1041C0700X
- Grouping: Behavioral Health & Social Service Providers
- Classification: Social Worker
- Specialization: Clinical
Credentials
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Practice Locations
118 Central St
Waltham, MA 02453-5465
Phone Number: (781) 891-0556