Clinical Supervision

Based on my background in comparative psychoanalysis, the way I listen, think, and respond therapeutically is informed by several psychoanalytic traditions and technical approaches. First and foremost, I work closely with affect. I also draw heavily from the relational psychoanalytic tradition and its roots in object relations theory (particularly the work of the British Middle School, including Winnicott, Fairbairn, Guntrip, Balint, Bowlby, and Bion) and interpersonal psychoanalysis (Sullivan, Fromm, Horney, and Levenson). I am also influenced by the work of Kohut and contemporary Self Psychologists (Schwaber, Morrison, and Geist), as well as Lacan and the contemporary Kleinians. And while I am not an ego psychologist by any means, I find triangular models of conflict and defense to be useful conceptual tools and close process monitoring to be an invaluable way of attending to clinical process. If for some peculiar reason I had to limit myself to the two greatest influences on my clinical sensibility, I would name the closest I have to heroes: Paul Russell, MD, and Stephen Mitchell, Ph.D.

Within and beyond psychoanalysis, I have deep roots in existential philosophy and psychotherapy, and am very informed by the work of Rollo May, Victor Frankl, and the great existential therapist of our time, Irvin Yalom. I also draw upon non-psychoanalytic models of therapy, including Internal Family Systems, as well as neurobiological and somatic-based models used in the treatment of trauma. 

I accompany therapists in various ways as they engage their patients and navigate psychoanalytic work, including the following: refining case conceptualizations; providing theoretical models to help therapists better organize their experience, anchor their minds, and be able to mentalize about their patients; offer exact language for what I might say to a patient in a particular moment; helping to contain and understand powerful transferential and counter transferential forces in the treatment; and provide company so a therapist doesn't worry or struggle alone.