About Dr. McNiel McNiel’s Approach

About Dr. McNiel McNiel’s Approach

My approach to clinical work involves providing services that are evidence-based in a way that is tailored to the specific needs of the individual or couple. In this way I am guided by the current scientific research while also recognizing that each individual’s or couple’s situation is unique in important ways.

Two particular areas in which I focus are treatments for posttraumatic stress and substance abuse. After a traumatic event, many people find themselves overwhelmed with anxiety and painful memories of the event. Fortunately, in the past decade there has been tremendous progress in treating this problem. I am trained in these techniques, and I offer focused, time-limited therapy that reduces symptoms and restores quality of life.

A very common problem, and in fact the most common psychological problem, is substance abuse. A hallmark of this problem is ambivalence. Individuals want to stop but have difficulty overcoming the pull of substance use. Motivational enhancement therapy is an approach that explores this ambivalence, helping the individual to explore his or her mixed feelings and determine what is best. In this way the therapist and client are allies working toward the goals of the client. Following this exploratory process, typically the client learns a number of specific steps to build and maintain a satisfying life free of the problems of substance abuse. Using motivational enhancement techniques, my goal is to help the client decide what changes to make and then take the specific steps to carry out the change.

I provide couples counseling to partners seeking help to address a variety of issues, including communication difficulties (which is often the underlying problem causing other problems), pre-marital/newlywed concerns, overcoming infidelity, desire for more intimacy and closeness, and family adjustment (e.g., new baby, re-location, retirement).