My Services
Services Offered
I work with adults (18+) who are dealing with persistent patterns in their thoughts, emotions, or relationships that no longer feel sustainable. People come to me for many different reasons, but the concerns that tend to fit my practice fall into a few broad areas:
Internal distress and self-criticism
This often includes chronic anxiety, worry, rumination, social avoidance, or a harsh inner dialogue marked by self-doubt or impostor feelings. For some people this shows up as constant tension; for others, as a quiet sense of never quite measuring up.
Anger, reactivity, and interpersonal friction
I frequently work with people whose anger or emotional reactivity is creating problems in everyday situations, at work, in close relationships, or other times when frustration escalates too quickly. This often includes patterns of blowing up, saying things they later regret, or feeling out of control in moments that matter, followed by concern about the impact on their relationships and themselves. They want to respond differently without shutting down or becoming someone they’re not.
Stress, sleep, and emotional overload
I work with people who feel chronically overextended or keyed up, often with sleep problems that make everything harder. This can include difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking unrefreshed, feeling emotionally numb, or a sense of being perpetually on edge. Over time, these patterns can leave people feeling worn down and less resilient. They want to feel steadier, more rested, and better able to meet daily demands without constantly running on empty.
Life transitions, loss, and meaning disruptions
Some people seek therapy during periods of change: grief or loss, career shifts, aging, identity questions, or a general sense that something important is missing. These concerns don’t always fit neatly into diagnostic categories, but they matter deeply. They want space to think carefully, make sense of what has changed, and decide how to move forward in a way that feels deliberate rather than reactive.
Across these areas, the work is less about labels and more about understanding how you think, relate, and respond under pressure, and about loosening patterns that no longer serve you.
Practice boundaries
My practice is not structured to provide couples therapy, primary treatment for substance use disorders, trauma-focused care for active PTSD, or treatment for chronic self-harm or ongoing suicidal behavior. In those situations, I can help you identify appropriate referrals.
My Approach to Therapy
I approach therapy as a way of helping people better understand how their mind works, and how to work with it more effectively. Many people come to therapy feeling frustrated, worn down, or limited by their own reactions, thoughts, or emotions, as if they’re operating complex machinery without an owner’s manual. A large part of my role is to help you develop that manual, so fewer things feel overwhelming, threatening, or unsolvable.
The therapeutic relationship matters, and there’s a substantial body of research to support that. My goal is to establish a warm, collaborative, and trusting relationship with you in which you feel understood and accepted. The work itself isn’t about reviewing your week or addressing problems one at a time as they arise. Instead, we use real situations from your life as concrete examples to identify larger, recurring patterns, how your mind tends to operate under pressure, and to experiment with different ways of responding. Along the way, this often does help resolve specific problems, but the broader goal is to create changes that generalize beyond any single situation.
We'll look closely at specific situations, identify patterns that keep repeating, and work on changing how you relate to thoughts and emotions that tend to take over. This often includes examining unhelpful beliefs, practicing new responses, learning to notice that thoughts aren't facts, and applying what we discuss between sessions. The goal isn’t to eliminate discomfort or achieve constant calm, but to reduce the degree to which internal experiences run your behavior without your consent.
The tone of the work matters to me. Therapy doesn’t have to be solemn, jargon-heavy, or overly formal to be effective. I aim for a relaxed, straightforward atmosphere where we can speak like real people, use good humor when it helps, and take the work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.
How to Get Started
When you call or email, leave your contact information and we'll set up a free 15-minute phone consultation. If we're a good fit, we'll proceed with an initial evaluation. If not, I'll gladly refer you elsewhere.
Before our initial meeting, you'll sign up for my patient portal and complete some paperwork. In your initial evaluation, I will gather information about your current difficulties, history, and goals. After gathering this information I will suggest a plan for therapy and answer any questions you have.
Fees and Insurance
I operate on a fee-for-service basis and do not participate as an in-network provider with insurance plans.
I’ve chosen this model intentionally. Working outside of insurance allows for greater privacy, more flexibility in how therapy is structured, and less reliance on diagnostic labels to justify care. It also allows the work to focus on what is most useful to you, rather than on meeting external requirements about the type or length of treatment.
If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. I can provide documentation for submission if you choose to pursue this. Please note that reimbursement typically requires a diagnosis and involves sharing information with your insurer.
My fees are as follows:
Therapy: $175 per 45–50 minute session
Initial evaluation: $225 for 60–75 minutes
I offer a limited number of sliding-scale slots based on need. This can be discussed during a phone consultation.
About Me
I grew up in Fort Worth, TX, and have lived here in Maryland for 19 years. I earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in 1999. In addition to my psychotherapy practice, I conduct pre-employment psychological evaluations for law enforcement and serve as a member of the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
I did my undergraduate work at Texas Christian University and can be found in front of the television anytime my beloved Horned Frogs are playing football. Music, particularly jazz, is an important part of my life. I've played the trumpet and piano both privately and publicly over the years.
I have five adult kids, three of whom are now in college. Although parenting isn't for the faint of heart, I wouldn't trade it for all the world. I also enjoy constructing crossword puzzles, cooking, hiking in the mountains, visiting the beach, and sitting on my front porch on a cool evening chatting with my wife or reading a good book.
I love my job. I am privileged to do the work I do with clients. For me, there is no better life's work than helping others discover how to live with more ease. I look forward to the opportunity to help you if your needs and my services are a good fit.