I appreciate how difficult and scary it can be reaching out for help, but you have already taken the first step by visiting my website. With my warm, non-judgmental and understanding approach, I will help you on your journey to understand the difficulties you are facing. I work with adults to successfully reduce stress, anxiety and depression; strengthen friendships and relationships at work and at home, resolve grief, past traumas, and internal conflict, modify negative thinking and self-destructive behaviors, build self-esteem, foster self-discovery, and help improve one's overall quality of life experiences.

At The Retreat Counseling Center, we provide therapy, counseling, and coaching services to Orange County's busy professionals and their families. Chances are, since you've landed on this webpage, some things in your life may not be working well. Maybe you're on the edge of a divorce? Or maybe your job is in jeopardy. Or maybe you just feel a bit lost with what you feel you're supposed to do next in life. And maybe because of reasons such as this and more, you're feeling more anxious and less happy than before. This is tough stuff, but we're glad you've landed here. We want to help.

Does your relationship need help? Have you found yourself feeling stressed, worried or hopeless that things will get better? Are you hesitant about becoming engaged or getting married? Perhaps you feel secure in your relationship yet find yourself feeling anxious, restless or depressed and can’t seem to pin point why.

Are you going through difficult life circumstances? Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Are you feeling uncertain and doubtful about your future? Eventhough, negative thoughts and feelings are not uncommon, if left untreated they can cause depression, uncontrolled anger and anxiety. I can help you heal and turn your life around. I can help you get from surviving to thriving. I can help you turn your negative thoughts and feelings into positive ones. This will help you make better life decisions and see life from a clearer and more positive perspective, improving your circumstances as well as your relationships.

Are you finding it hard to get through your day without feeling anxious, angry, or sad? Do you often isolate yourself from family and friends? Could you be someone who struggles with understanding why you can't get along with other people? Have you recently lost a loved one or relationship and need support to work through your grief? I have a passion to help those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and relationship issues. My other strengths include: work problems, family problems, self-esteem issues, trauma, PTSD, addiction, childhood issues, spiritual identity, sexual identity, and many others.

New beginnings can often be disguised as painful endings. I work closely with those who have been through tragic events, suffered childhood abuse, those who have been victimized by others, as well as those who might feel like they have nowhere left to turn. My goal is to help you find your inner strength, and to courageously be free to display it and be proud. I am empathetic to my client’s needs, ambitious to provide support, and offer a nonjudgmental space for you to share and truly be heard.

I work with clients in person or online video with telemedicine HIPPA compliant. I maintain a very successful practice of psychology that addresses the client at all levels; Mental, Emotional, Physical & Spiritual, facilitating healing at the level of causation, not just management and treatment of symptoms. I sought out the most innovative treatments so my clients feel better as soon as possible and can be out living their lives. I work very well with children, adolescents, and indivduals of all ages. I have extensive clinical experience that covers a wide range of problems. I work with couples individually and together.

First of all, you're not “broken” and you don’t need to be “fixed.” You just need help finding answers to your concerns; answers that you already posses but just can't access. You need a person with both personal and professional experience, who understands your concerns, to help you to sort through and address them . That’s where I can help. If you want an emotionally distant therapist who uses psychobabble and views you as a project, I won't be a good fit for you. Rather, if you want a confidant and partner who believes therapy should be personal, non-threatening and understandable, please keep reading.

I am a well trained and highly experienced clinical psychologist with CURRENT OPENINGS in my schedule for new clients. I established my practice in Newport Beach in 1983, after serving as a psychologist for the U.S. Navy following completion of internships at the Orange County Mental Health Department and National Naval Medical Center Bethesda Maryland. I am past President of the Orange County Psychological Association, and former member of the Board of Directors of the California Psychological Association. I am a proud Viet Nam War veteran who retired in 2001 after 30 years of combined active duty and reserve service with the rank of Commander. I am an expert at assessing complex cases. I help people cope with stress and adapt to difficult life situations. I specialize in both short term solution-focused counseling as well as longer term intensive psychodynamic psychotherapy. When necessary, I refer to competent psychiatrists for medication. Therapy is a big investment, and I have the utmost respect for my clients' time and money.

No matter what you're feeling or thinking or going through, I'd welcome the chance to work through it by your side--whether you're a teen or an adult, we can start figuring it out, together. If you're reading this, you might be ready to jump right in or you might be taking that first tentative step towards finding someone to talk to; either way, you've already actively moved forward (though I know it sometimes doesn't feel that way). If you're struggling with your feelings, your thoughts, or a difficult situation, I hope that you'll reach out; nobody is meant to handle everything on their own, and you absolutely don't have to.

In the years of experience of working with people I have seen the most effective help comes in the form of deep value for the person, their story and the unique strengths they bring to life. Whatever challenge a person comes with, I seek to empower the change he/she desires to live a life they can love.

This time of year can be the worst! It gets dark so early, it's colder, it's rainy... sometimes, and I find myself just getting by. Can you relate? You are not alone. What if I told you life can be more than just get through it. What if we could make some tweaks here and there to get you on track? Would you be in? The type of therapy that we do is specific, short-term, and straight to the point. No messing around. Oh and by the way Holidays are coming... are you ready for the chaos that comes with this time of the year?

Taking new clients. Start with a phone call TODAY! Feeling stressed or overwhelmed, depressed, unmotivated, or scattered? Are you struggling with direction or the next steps in what seems like a crazy world? Let me help. My clients are good people doing their best in the face of real-life challenges. I help individuals, couples, and families move forward in their lives. Whether you are seeking therapy for personal growth, relationship issues, divorce, parenting challenges, or life stage transitions my clients would tell you that the practical interventions they receive in our sessions significantly helped progress in their lives.

I am currently full and not accepting new clients. Thank you. High Functioning Anxiety may have worked for a long time, but now it could be taking you over, leaving you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and at a loss of what to do. When you are normally able to handle it all and now you feel like you can't, it is frustrating and discouraging. This in turn can start to wear on your body and make you feel tired and sad at times and then the next thing you know keyed up and anxious.

I'd like to help... Your Relationship Within Yourself and With Others. I believe your mind and body work together; that you can create your own happiness by how you choose to respond to your feelings, and act towards yourselves and the world around you. If you are ready for change in your life, or would like to explore new ways of thinking and living your life, my Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution Focused, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy approaches may help. My goals for you are to receive new insight/tools that you can use to help create a better, happier life.

If you or your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, transitioning into adulthood, trauma, or relationship issues, I can help. I can assist you in breaking free from the roadblocks and emotional pain that keeps you from being who you want to be and doing what you want to do. I strive to create a safe environment for clients to reinvent themselves or process difficult life events and challenges. I offer *Court Approved Anger Management Classes* Classes are currently being held via Telehealth and are offered Saturdays @ 10am and Wednesdays @ 6pm. See "Groups" below.

I AM STILL ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS VIA VIDEO. I BELIEVE THAT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WE ALL NEED SUPPORT. I take a holistic, outside-the-box approach to psychotherapy. I seek to illuminate your internal world, while helping you connect to yourself, others and the world in a meaningful way. I work to build an authentic, trusting relationship with you, and aim to embody warmth, optimism, curiosity and empathy.

Finding a therapist at a time when your whole world is falling apart, is one more difficult task to add to the many tasks required of you. Well, you aren't alone! Couples & family counseling is one of my many focuses. Premarital and marriage counseling can be very effective in starting and saving relationships. I also focus on stress, fears, and anxiety that might be causing unexplained aches and pains in your body, frustrating you and others around you. I am well versed on issues of Chronic illness, hormonal imbalances, Fibromyalgia, Infertility, Postpartum, Menopause, Thyroid and many life events affecting healthy relationships.

Do you or your partner struggle with intimacy issues or sex-porn-relationship addiction? Have you tried traditional therapy or 12 Step Groups with no long term recovery? If you're ready to combat your addictive behavior or breakthrough your intimacy barriers, I can help! I offer concierge online therapy and coaching for individuals struggling with sexual disorders, sex/porn addiction, and support for betrayed partners & recovering couples. Sessions are offered remotely: by phone or video only. CLICK HERE to schedule a confidential consultation https://bit.ly/33FBagV

PSYCHOLOGY AT WORK:: A graduate studies professor in organizational psychology, I provide psychotherapeutic interventions to help clients manage the difficult transitions of life, particularly in the workplace.