Groups Served | Problems Treated | Services | Memberships
Licensure | Practice Philosophy | My Commitment
ABOUT GEORGE GLASER
Thank you for exploring my web site. Here is some information about me and my therapeutic perspectives that might be helpful in your search for a therapist.
I opened my Austin-based private practice in 1997, specializing in the treatment of marital disorders, mood disorders, trauma, chronic pain and psychosomatic conditions. It was my intention to offer a relaxed, personalized practice–one that would contrast with many of the managed-care dominated service providers in the Austin area, and I believe that goal has been successful. Before opening my practice, I was a clinical and management staff member with Austin Regional Clinic-Mental Health Associates between 1984-1997.
Families are very important to me. I have been married for 38 years, with two sons who are currently 30 and 26. My wife is a professor at Texas State University–San Marcos.
Spiritual practices are essential in life, and I feel very comfortable in exploring spiritual issues with clients in our therapeutic work. After all, we are made up of many parts—physical, mental, emotional, interpersonal and spiritual, not necessarily in order of importance. My personal faith background is in the Christian tradition. I consider myself interested in all faiths, however, and you will find at my office a spirit of curiosity and respect for all spiritual traditions.
After receiving my Master of Social Work degree from The Ohio State University in 1975, I worked in Columbus, Ohio at Southwest Community Mental Health Center. My wife and I moved to Austin in 1977, and from 1978-1984 I served as a clinical staff member at the Austin/Travis County MH-MR Center.
I co-founded The Milton H. Erickson Institute of Central Texas in 1987 with friends and colleagues: Seyma Calihman, MSSW, Carol Kershaw, Ph.D. and Bill Wade, LPC. We later separated the Institute of Central Texas into two organizations: the Institutes of Austin and Houston. Both of these institutes continue to provide training for professionals in the use of Ericksonian hypnosis in psychotherapy.
I am an Advisory Board Member for The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, served as a reviewer for the Ericksonian Monographs, and contributed to Tales of Enchantment by Stephen and Carol Lankton. I have been on the faculty of regional and national conferences for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, the National Association of Social Workers, the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.
I obtained entrance into the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) in 1978. I am Board Certified through the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work (ABECSW) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). I hold a Diplomate through the American Hypnosis Board for Clinical Social Work (AHBCSW). I am an Approved Consultant of The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), and was approved as a Fellow of that organization in 2004. I served as President of ASCH from 2009-2010.
I have lectured on Family Therapy at the University of Texas School of Social Work at Austin. I am a volunteer for Capital Area Mental Health Center, the Central Texas Chapter of the Red Cross. I am active with the state and local units of the National Association of Social Workers/Texas, and served as Chair of that organization's Chapter Ethics Committee .
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PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY AND METHODS
Emotional problems frequently develop and persist because of a person's inflexibility in relating to one or more aspects of themselves that they find unacceptable. These "parts" are felt to be the problem, but in fact it is the hiding of them that causes the internal and interpersonal problems that leave people feeling frustrated, hopeless and alone. All of my approaches are aimed at helping the client develop new perspectives and abilities, and new ways of relating to aspects of themselves that are felt to be so unacceptable.
I use a variety of approaches developed during nearly 36 years of clinical practice. From the start, family systems theory and approaches has been one of the main foundations of my work. I have extensively studied different hypnotic approaches to psychotherapy for over 30 years, and find it to be an invaluable aid for both understanding my clients and helping them master new cognitive, emotional and behavioral skills. Especially important is the work of Milton Erickson, M.D., who was a leader in conceptualizing and expanding the uses of hypnosis. More recently, I have been using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as a very useful adjunctive procedure in dealing with trauma. Hypnosis and EMDR are very complimentary tools.
Two important teachers of mine are Stephen Lankton, MSW and Stephen Gilligan, Ph.D., both of whom are well-known students of Milton Erickson. I began studying with Steve Lankton in the mid 1980s with a focus on the indirect suggestion, metaphoric and storytelling aspects of Erickson's work. I have studied with Stephen Gilligan since 1989 as he developed and modified his Self-Relations Psychotherapy within the context of intensive multi-day supervision groups.
My practice approaches fall under the broad category of cognitive-behavioral therapies, with a focus on mind-body approaches to therapy.
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MY COMMITMENT TO YOU
I promise to help you work on your problems in a comfortable atmosphere of respect, competence and collaboration. I will assist you as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Call or e-mail me with any questions you may have about my background, skills, interests and training.
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GROUPS SERVED
- Adults of all ages
- Adolescents
- Children ages 8 and above
- Couples
- Families
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PROBLEMS TREATED (in alphabetical order)
- Anxiety Disorders (Panic, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Post Traumatic Disorder)
- Chronic Illness
- Chronic Pain
- Depressive Disorders
- Diabetic Adjustment and Control
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Relational Problems (Couples, Families, Organizational)
- Sleep Disorders
- Stress-Related Physical Disorders
- Trauma (Acute and Chronic)
- Sexual Disorders
- Smoking
- Weight Issues
SERVICES OFFERED
- Psychotherapy
- Marital and Family Therapy
- Hypnosis
- EMDR
- Brief Counseling
- Hypnotic Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Psychological and Behavioral Aspects Of Coping with Diabetes
- Childbirth Preparation
- Pain Control
- Surgical and Dental Preparation
- Organizational Consultation
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MEMBERSHIPS
- National Association of Social Workers
- American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- Central Texas Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- International Society of Hypnosis
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LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#00319)
(The Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners) - Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (ABECSW)
- Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (NASW)
- Diplomate from the American Hypnosis Board for Clinical Social Work
(current President) - Certified by The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- Approved Consultant for American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- Fellow of The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- Listed in the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers
updated on 2013-04-20