Counseling/Expert Profile

Expertise

I specialize in various forms of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and also stress, phobias, life changes, grief, women's issues, men's issues, etc. My licenses are: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -Supervisor(LPCC-S) and Licensed Professional Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC) in the state of Ohio and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).

Experience in the area

12 years experience. I counsel substance abusers, families of alcoholics/drug addictions, and codependency issues. I also specialize in social phobia; stress; anxieties; women`s issues; grief and adjustments to life changes. Some therapeutic techniques used are: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy)REBT (Rational Emotive), SFT (Solution Focused) and 12-Step, etc. If you live in the Cleveland area, you can contact me at my office for an appointment at: 440-349-4521. I am on various insurance panels and EAP programs.

Organizations

ACA, OCA, NCOCA, OMHCA

Publications

Experiences of prejudice among individuals in African American and Caucasian Interracial Marriages: A Q-methodological Study (Doctoral Dissertation - December 2008; Wilsnack and Beckman's book: Alcohol Problems in Women (1984). Alcohol use and marital violence: Female and Male Differences in reactions to alcohol(pages 260-279.

Education/Credentials

Ph.D. In counseling MA In Counseling BS In Psychology

Awards and Honors

Previous president of NCOCA (North Central Ohio Counseling Association); previous president of Chi Sigma Iota. Two years VISTA volunteer on Navajo reservation in Inscription House and Shonto.

Past/Present Clients

Do to HIPAA privacy laws, I do not release any info about my client.

What do you like about this subject?

Depression affects the family and everyone needs educated that this is truly a physical illness due to brain chemistry. Substance abuse: Many individuals do for the addict/alcoholic what he should be doing for himself such as covering up or paying his/her bills, etc. This only enables the addict to be an addict.Family/friends need educated.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

Never quit learning.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Light therapy really works for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Light therapy studies are now going on for pregnant women and post-partum depression studies.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Many physicians do not believe light therapy works due to lack of education in this area.