Psychotherapy Services

Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy with Adults

For for over 20 years I have had the privilege of listening to, helping, and learning about individuals and families as they seek psychotherapy. Their unique and compelling life narratives continue to amaze me.

In my practice I provide both short-term and long-term psychotherapy, often incorporating hypnotherapy, to adults who struggle with complex losses, sadness, anxiety, problem behaviors, relationship issues, illness, and more. My goal is to help you find relief from the emotional distress that prompted your initial consideration of therapy. I want to assist you as you gain insight into how you have reached this juncture in life.

Questions we may explore are:

What relationship patterns seem to be repeating?
What is the meaning of the problem for you?
Can you recognize previous successful and unsuccessful efforts to resolve the problem?
Would hypnosis be a good technique for you?

Together, we examine thoughts, feelings, and actions in the “here-and now,” as well as from the past. The purpose of our work together is to repair and strengthen internal resources and coping skills so that your future is strong and fulfilling. My therapeutic style embraces understanding, compassion, and respect; you must feel comfortable with me as we build rapport and a good working relationship. Nevertheless, there are times when I need to speak plainly to you and question you about difficult or discomfiting issues. This is all part of the change process.

When I use hypnosis, it is a tool or technique within the therapeutic process. Usually, we do some hypnotherapy in the office, and then you practice at home and start to employ self-hypnosis. Hypnotherapy can enhance relaxation and help you manage anxiety and stress, improve the quality of your daily life as you cope with chronic pain or illness, and help you change negative behaviors.

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy is most effective when a trusting and empathic relationship is established, usually when therapy sessions are regular and consistent, generally once-weekly. Meetings may taper off as progress is made. After the first interview of 90 minutes, therapy sessions are scheduled for approximately fifty minutes. Shorter sessions may be best with very young children and collateral contact with the family can be quite useful. Confidentiality issues will be reviewed with all patients, so children, adolescents, and adults know what to expect.

Infertility and Parenthood

I offer individual, couples, and group therapy to those experiencing infertility, transitioning to parenthood, and involved in the adoption process. Coping with these transitions touches a unique set of psychological topics, and throughout I keep in mind the issues of self, identity, and the need to manage emotional and physical stress. The anxiety associated with many infertility treatments can be reduced through a mind-body approach. Furthermore, some research suggests that heightened relaxation complements medical procedures and contributes to their success.

My interest in this specialty area of psychology is an outgrowth of my doctoral research and the numerous hours of in-depth qualitative interviews I conducted. Now, as a practitioner I blend my expertise in clinical hypnosis with my understanding of the challenges of infertility. Relaxation training, learning about mind body connections, guided imagery, clinical hypnosis, and related breathing techniques can complement traditional psychotherapy for many adults coping with infertility treatments and complex medical issues such as oncofertility.

A therapeutic goal is to increase your resiliency while you cope with infertility, and bring relief for the depression and anxiety that often repeat during the course of treatment.

Please contact me for more information.

Therapy with Children and Adolescents

Supporting optimal emotional and behavioral functioning

Young children (ages 3 to 5/early childhood)
School-age children (ages 5-13/elementary school)
Adolescents (ages 13 and older/middle school and high school youth)

You bring your child to treatment to help him or her get on with the task of "growing up" -- successful development and maturation. When your child suffers emotionally, is not adjusting well, or has problems making friends, you worry -- and to some degree feel his or her distress. Therapy will be tailored to meet the needs of your child, his or her level of development, and the family dynamics. Consequently, it can be provided in a variety of ways:

Individual Therapy: This takes many forms, such as verbal talk therapy, play therapy, hypnotherapy, expressive arts therapy (e.g., using art or sand trays).
Family or Group therapy: Family therapy may consist of working with siblings, the whole family, and providing parent guidance. Group therapy begins with a face-to-face or telephone interview. Parents are asked to complete a behavior checklist and developmental history form. Sometimes parents will be asked to have teachers complete a child behavior assessment form as well.
Consultation: By working closely with parents, educators, and
physicians Dr. Lombard provides flexible and individualized mental health treatment.

Please contact Dr. Lombard for a fuller discussion of these pediatric therapy options.

Pediatric Hypnosis

This is a specialty practice within the set of general psychological services I offer.

I use hypnosis and guided imagery in my therapeutic relationship with children and adolescents. These therapeutic tools can be very effective in helping children solve a new problem or cope with the discomfort of a chronic issue. A range of presenting problems, such as changing problem behaviors like bed-wetting and nail biting, managing pain and anxiety related to medical procedures, and reducing anxiety that is secondary to Asperger's Disorder and learning disabilities, can be addressed using pediatric hypnosis. These practices are embedded within a therapeutic relationship; they do not stand alone. The methods used will vary according to your child’s age, maturity, abilities, presenting problems, history, and so forth.

Executive Functioning Consultations and Guidance

This is a specialty practice within the set of general psychological services I offer.

Executive Functioning is a set of higher order problem-solving abilities that emerge as children mature. Gaps in this domain appear as organizational problems, time mismanagement, poor planning, and weak anticipatory skills. But steps can be taken to support executive functioning. After a brief assessment of your youngster’s problem-solving patterns, miscues, and missteps, I consult with the youngster, his or her teachers, and the parents to formulate practical strategies to optimize learning and executive functioning. I help students develop self-awareness of strengths and weakness in organization and task completion. We may look at time estimation, planning, organization, test preparation, and information retention. This type of consultation may take place outside of therapy, or as part of a treatment plan. Referrals for work on executive functioning often come from parents, guidance counselors, teachers, and school social workers.

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
- Lao Tzu