I practiced psychotherapy for more than 50 years before retiring. I am now drawing on that experience as I offer my services as a life coach.  During my years as a psychotherapist, I worked with many diverse issues.  My specialty areas were:

    .  Reducing worry, stress, and anxiety
    .  Increasing self-esteem and self-confidence
    .  Recovering from trauma
    .  Recovering from loss, grief, and depression
    .  Resolving relationship issues
 
Theoretically, I am comfortable with both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches, and I adapt my coaching style to fit the individual needs of each unique person. I also use hypnotherapy when I consider it to be appropriate.

I find that hypnotherapy is especially useful in helping individuals deal with all kinds of anxiety, including performance anxiety (public speaking, test-taking, musical performance); anxiety associated with upcoming medical procedures or surgery, and insomnia. Hypnosis can be helpful for pain relief and with other mind-body conditions.

I have prepared self-hypnosis recordings that can be downloaded.  My audio program “Core Inner Strength” contains segments devoted to discovering inner strength, raising self-esteem, increasing self-confidence, and experiencing comfort and safety. This last segment promotes stress reduction and relaxation. 

The program “Overcoming Performance Anxiety” targets stage fright in a variety of situations.  The program, “Mastering Public Speaking” is intended to make you a more effective public speaker.  For anyone dreading an upcoming bar exam, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, etc., “Test-Taking Mastery” could be helpful. A download is also available on “Overcoming Fear of Flying”.

Three audio self-hypnosis recordings are entitled “Creating a Satisfying Relationship”. The programs are “Preparing for a Satisfying Love Relationship”, “Finding a Satisfying Love Relationship”, and “Maintaining a Satisfying Love Relationship”. These audio programs are appropriate for men and women of all ages, both straight and gay, who have perhaps been unlucky in love and are seeking to learn how to find the right partner and create a satisfying relationship.  Contact Dr. McNeal directly at mcnealshirley [at] gmail.com for more information or to purchase these self-hypnosis audio programs.

Dreams are an area of particular interest to me, for I believe they provide useful information.