Career Counseling & Assessment

My career counseling and assessment package consists of four 50-minute sessions, taking four validated career assessments and a personalized report at the conclusion of our meetings. I was a counselor and the coordinator of the Career Counseling and Assessment Clinic at the University of Minnesota for several years during graduate school and received extensive training in career and vocational assessment and counseling during graduate school.

I use a well-supported theory of career satisfaction (Theory of Work Adjustment; Dawis & Lofquist, 1984). It asserts that matching an individual’s interests and values to specific careers leads to greater career satisfaction. For this reason, my clients take objective measures of these interests and values in order to facilitate our conversations and direct your career exploration. Your work history, personal history and individual needs are also important elements of this decision making process, and these are incorporated into our discussions.

You may benefit from this career counseling service if you:

• have experienced success in a field or a number of fields, but are lacking fulfillment.

• are just beginning your career and want to start out on the right path.

• have lost your job and want to make an informed decision about your next move.

• are retired and want to try something different.

• are re-entering the workforce after a prolonged absence.

Additional sessions for further exploration and services (such as resume review and interview practice) are also available as needed.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

I have had initial and advanced training in CBT-I at the University of Pennyslvania, one of the world leaders in implementation and research. I currently work at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Clinic at Hennepin Healthcare treating insomnia and related disorders. I have received additional training through the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine and am a member of the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine and the Minnesota Sleep Society.

CBT-I is extremely well supported by research as an effective treatment for insomnia, and is, in the long term, more effective than sedative hypnotic medication (Morin et al, 1999). On average, CBT-I improves patients’ sleep about 50% by the end of treatment with additional gains after completing treatment (Morin, 1994; Murtagh, 1995, Smith et al., 2002). Treatment usually requires 5-8 sessions over two to three months. Initial and follow up sessions last 50 minutes. Research supports the strong effectiveness of this treatment for people with a wide range of medical and psychiatric conditions.

General Psychology Services

Many people struggle with symptoms of anxiety, have difficulty in relationships, are dissatisfied with work, face serious health challenges or losses, struggle to adapt to life changes, or simply feel discouraged or unhappy in life.

My clients come to me with a broad range of mental health concerns, and I have a specialized interest in treating anxiety disorders including social anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and others. I also enjoy helping clients learn behavioral strategies for managing ADHD. I always personalize the therapeutic approach to individual needs using evidence-based approaches when available.

Some clients attend a few sessions, whereas others—particularly those with challenging life circumstances—need ongoing support for a more extended period. Although each person’s therapeutic needs vary, it typically requires 10-15 sessions to treat a diagnosable anxiety disorder. I work with adults aged 18 or older.