I counsel adolescents (age 13 and up) on a range of issues, and I enjoy the challenge of working with teenagers who are resistant to the idea of therapy. I generally treat my teenage clients like young adults, so a certain level of maturity is necessary for the counseling process to be effective. 

Frequent topics with teenagers include:

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• Defiance / Disrespect / Family Conflict 

• Academic Struggles 

• Alcohol and Drug Use

• Student-Athlete Stress / High School Sports Pressure

• Legal Issues

• Father-Son Relationships

• Lying / Dishonesty

• Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

• Low Self-Esteem

• Irresponsibility / Poor Decision-making  

• Self-Sabotage / Unfulfilled Potential

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I have worked with college students a therapist at the Counseling Center for the College of Charleston, and I've also been a guest speaker for the Adolescent Substance Use Skills Education and Training (ASSET) program at MUSC. I have represented  teenagers in court cases as a Guardian ad Litem for Charleston County. I've also mentored students at Meeting Street Academy and Academic Magnet High School. 
Because privacy and trust are critical to success in therapy, I ask parents to waive their right to view specific details of their child's treatment record. I will provide parents with general information about their child's progress in treatment as well as attendance at scheduled sessions.

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Couples Therapy

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My primary goal in couples counseling is to improve the quantity and quality of communication between the partners. I realize that guys are often resistant to the idea of couples counseling, so I'm used to that challenge. I generally meet with couples for 4-8 sessions with a focus on teaching new communication skills and strategy. It's then the couple's responsibility to put these new tools to work in their relationship. While we will discuss specific disagreements, I want to avoid becoming a "referee" in the relationship. 

Frequent areas of focus are:

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• Communication difficulties

• Lack of emotional intimacy

• Sexual incompatibility 

• Substance abuse

• Excessive criticism

• Infidelity (emotional and sexual)

• Parenting conflicts

• Finances

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Business Partnership Therapy

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I also work with business partners whose disagreements are threatening the health and stability of their company. Many of the techniques are similar to couples counseling with a strong emphasis on improving communication skills. The article below offers a helpful introduction to the concept of business partnership counseling.