Aviation Psychology

Psychotherapy for Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, and Aviation Professionals

Aviation is a unique environment. Pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals work in a culture that places a high value on safety, performance, judgment, and personal responsibility. Seeking mental health care can also feel more complicated when questions about medical certification or occupational requirements are involved.

I provide psychotherapy for pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals with an appreciation for the unique culture, responsibilities, and regulatory environment of aviation. As an instrument-rated private pilot, I also have some familiarity with aviation, its terminology and culture, and the importance that flying can have in a person’s life.

My goal is to provide a setting where aviation professionals can address the same concerns that bring many people to therapy while working with a psychologist who is familiar with the broader aviation and aeromedical context.

Therapy and the FAA

Pilots may understandably have questions about how seeking psychotherapy could affect their FAA medical certification.

I am familiar with FAA aeromedical standards and mental health guidance, including the medical certification standards under 14 CFR Part 67 and the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) process.

The FAA recognizes the importance of seeking appropriate mental health care, and participating in psychotherapy does not automatically mean receiving a mental health diagnosis or being unable to hold an FAA medical certificate. People seek therapy for many reasons, including stress, relationships, grief and loss, personal development, life changes, professional pressures, or other concerns that may or may not represent a psychiatric disorder.

When a diagnosis is clinically appropriate, I approach it thoughtfully and based on the available clinical evidence. When questions about medical certification arise, consultation with an AME or other appropriate aeromedical professional may also be helpful.

Thoughtful Assessment and Diagnosis

My clinical background includes extensive experience conducting semi-structured diagnostic interviews using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). This experience informs how I approach assessment and differential diagnosis when diagnostic questions are relevant.

This does not mean that everyone entering therapy needs or receives a psychiatric diagnosis. Rather, I believe in carefully understanding a person’s symptoms, functioning, history, and circumstances before determining whether a diagnosis is appropriate.

This can be particularly important in aviation, where accurate clinical assessment and documentation may have implications beyond the therapy room.

Approach to Therapy

My work is particularly informed by Control Mastery Theory (CMT), an evidence-based approach that focuses on how past experiences shape the ways we understand ourselves, relate to others, and interpret the world around us. We may carry longstanding beliefs about who we need to be, what others expect from us, or which emotions are acceptable to express. While these beliefs often developed for understandable reasons, they can sometimes interfere with how we want to live and the goals we want to pursue. Therapy can provide opportunities to better understand and reconsider these beliefs while working toward the goals that matter to us.

My training and clinical experience also include Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and evidence-based approaches to grief and loss. This broader training allows treatment to be responsive to the person, their concerns, and what they hope to accomplish in therapy.

I also have experience working with substance use concerns. I approach these concerns collaboratively and without judgment, with particular sensitivity to a person’s motivation and readiness for change.

Treatment may address anxiety, depression, chronic stress and burnout, relationships, grief and loss, trauma, substance use concerns, professional pressures, or broader questions of purpose and meaning.

Single-Session Therapy

Not everyone who wants to speak with a psychologist is looking for ongoing psychotherapy.

I also offer Single-Session Therapy, an evidence-based approach designed to make meaningful use of a single therapeutic encounter. Rather than treating the first meeting primarily as the beginning of a longer course of treatment, we identify a specific concern or problem and work toward making the session useful in its own right.

Single-Session Therapy is a focused, 90-minute appointment and may be particularly useful for someone facing a specific decision, difficult situation, interpersonal concern, period of stress, or other focused issue. One session may be enough for what you are looking for, or we can discuss additional treatment if it would be helpful.

Confidentiality and FAA Considerations

Psychotherapy is confidential, subject to the usual legal and ethical limits of confidentiality.

The FAA generally does not review a person’s psychotherapy record simply because they have participated in therapy. If information about treatment is needed as part of the medical certification process, I can provide accurate clinical information with your authorization and, when appropriate, coordinate with your AME or other professionals involved in your care.

My continuing education has included attendance at the HIMS Basic Education Seminar and Aerospace Behavioral Health Symposium (ABHS).

Fees

My fee is $250 per 45-minute session and $500 for a 90-minute Single-Session Therapy appointment. I accept HSA and FSA cards.

For out-of-network plans, you can check your benefits and file claims using the Use Your Insurance button on the Psychotherapy page.

Getting Started

I provide psychotherapy to adults in Washington and telepsychology to individuals located in participating PSYPACT states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CNMI, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, and WY.

If you are a pilot, air traffic controller, or other aviation professional interested in psychotherapy, you are welcome to contact me for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss what you are looking for and whether we might be a good fit.