Philosophy on Mental Health
I like to draw the distinction among thoughts feelings and behaviors. This is particularly important when working with adolescents. Thoughts and behaviors are things that most people are able to control. Feelings, however, are different. For most of us, feelings are not things that we can control, at least in the short term. Because they are out of our control, I believe that feelings are neither good nor bad. It's not fair to tell someone you shouldn't feel angry, you shouldn't feel sad you shouldn't feel scared. You might as well tell them you shouldn't have brown hair. All of us are going to feel what we feel. The key, however, is to be able to control how we handle these feelings. How will our actions, how will our decisions, be affected by our emotions? Anger, for example, is not necessarily bad. It may not be pleasant, but it is a natural part of the human experience. How we handle our anger, how we express our anger however, can absolutely be good or bad, right or wrong, healthy or unhealthy. Learning how to cope with and handled these feelings, including anger and sadness, is one of the ways in which therapy can help.
Education and Training
I earned my BA from Yale University and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University. I am a former adjunct professor of developmental psychology at Johns Hopkins University and was a member of the research psychiatry faculty at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In addition to working as a school psychologist for the Baltimore City public school system, I have worked full time in private practice at Crossroads Psychological Associates since 1995, and became a partner in 2006.
Services
Although I work with all ages, children through adults, I specialize in working with teenagers. I have experience working with patients individually, in groups (middle school, high school), and in families. In addition, as a therapeutic placement consultant, I match teenagers and young adults who need more than what can be provided on an outpatient basis, with the appropriate therapeutic residential school, wilderness program or residential treatment center.
Personal Statement
I enjoy skiing, backpacking and golf, although I am not very good. I play basketball and soccer when ever I get the chance and I am a rabid New York Mets fan. My favorite movies are “To Kill a Mockingbird", “The Godfather", and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".
Publications
Stacy, Thomas W. and Gold, David A. You Can't Scare Me I Have A Teenager: A Parent's Basic Survival Guide, 2005. Child and Family Press Washington, DC.