Thank you for visiting my website. Rather than publishing a standard biography, I took the liberty of interviewing myself, answering the questions that I thought people would be most likely to ask. If there are burning questions that I haven’t thought of, please let me know and I will add them along with my answers.
That being said, the best way to get to know me is to schedule a no-charge introductory session. Research has repeatedly proven that the two most important factors for “success” in therapy are 1) your own effort, and 2) your comfort with the psychotherapist.
How much do you charge?
My fee is $100 per hour, but for those who cannot afford this I have a sliding scale based on household income.
Do you take insurance?
No. But remember, if your resources are limited, your fee based on my sliding scale may easily be the same as the psychotherapy co-payment through your insurance company.
Note: if you’re concerned about privacy, a benefit of not paying me through your insurance is that your psychotherapy or couples counseling will not become a part of your permanent medical record.
Do you ever work evenings?
Yes, because many of my patients work. I am usually available two evenings each week as well as on Saturday.
Why should I see an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) for individual counseling?
Because no person is an island! I loved the fact that my MFT training included an equal amount of individual and couples counseling. Aside from serious physical or mental health issues, 99% of the reasons people need counseling is that they are having problems with other people: parents, children, significant others, bad bosses, good friends, you name it. My orientation is to look at the bigger picture and see how each of my clients fits into the overall systems that shape our lives.
Is there a specific type of therapy you do?
Aside from always taking the system into account (see above), I have no set approach to therapy. It all depends on what kind of person you are, what problems are facing you, and what has worked or failed to work for you before. Working with you, I will draw from the many forms of therapy that I have explored and integrate them into something that makes sense for you. In general, my process is to help you identify your strengths, clarify what’s important to you, and then approach each day accordingly.
I heard that you’re a Zen Buddhist. How does that affect your work?
It’s true, I have been a member of the Rochester Zen Center since 1969. That doesn’t mean that I’ll make you get into the lotus position for therapy, but it does mean that I’ll encourage you to pay closer attention to your life. Actually, the word “Zen” is sometimes translated as “attention.” It’s not some kind of mystical daydreaming; rather, it’s the fundamental skill of actually living in the moment. I find that therapy is greatly enhanced when people become more mindful of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
From ad agency owner to psychotherapist? Explain!
In the last few years I owned Buck & Pulleyn, my focus was primarily on market research. I had always been interested in psychology – it goes hand in hand with effective advertising – and in doing more focus groups and individual interviews I realized how much I liked that activity. And then it occurred to me that I could be doing it to help people rather than to sell stuff. Wow, what a revelation! And the rest is history.