ELLEN DEKKER
Marriage & Family Therapist
available for psychotherapy, consultation, and presentations
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Within the warmth, safety, and trust of the therapy relationship, I can help you learn to relate to yourself and others differently.
Many of us have not experienced healthy relationships, leaving us feeling alone and unsure of ourselves. Others of us may be in the midst of stressful life changes or may have experienced a recent trauma. Some of us cope by turning to food for comfort or by losing ourselves in unsatisfying relationships. Others may feel anxious or depressed.
I am a licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of clinical experience working with both individuals and couples. I offer both practical tools which can help you get unstuck and break negative patterns, as well as experiential insight which can help you create lasting change.
My clinical approach helps clients find new ways of relating by providing them with new insights and new tools to generate deep and lasting change.
CONSULTATION
I offer consultation services to adult children of aging parents as well as to caregivers and professionals working with seniors.
Many adult children have concerns about their parents' ability to care for themselves and are unsure how to go about exploring these issues. Some of us are caring for our parents at home while others of us live further away. Differing practical considerations as well as family relationships raise different problems and concerns.
In addition to my private practice, I work as a geriatric psychotherapist at On Lok Lifeways, a comprehensive long term health plan for frail seniors who live independently in the community. I have extensive experience working with seniors and their families on negotiating emotional and practical issues involved with aging.
I am available to share my knowledge about geriatric mental health as well as to help you separate emotional issues from practical concerns and decisions that need to be made. I can help you explore options & problem solve as well as offer support and help enhance coping skills as you manage this stressful life transition.
WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS
I am available to speak to groups about geriatric mental health and about issues for adult children caring for senior parents.
I am published in the Clinical Journal of the American Geriatric Society, Clinical Geriatrics, Sept. 2009. I have made multiple presentations on geriatric mental health: for the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, the American Geriatric Society, The National Association of the Mentally Ill, and the National PACE Association. I have also provided training to On Lok's interdisciplinary professional team on issues of geriatric mental health.