Although retired from teaching seminars, having passed the torch onwards to an ever-increasing number of Edgework Certified Trainers, Ellis Amdur still offers private consultation. This consultation is for both ordinary individuals and professionals.
This can certainly include assistance dealing with aggressive or suicidal people, as well as those struggling with mental illness, within your family, I also offers tactical assessments regarding stalkers (based on the information you and others provide), and then recommend actions that have the best chance of minimizing a stalker’s approaches. The goal of such assessment is to assist you in organizing the information that the stalker ‘provides,’ both to aid in keeping yourself safe, and to aid in effectively communicating your concerns to both law enforcement and, perhaps, to a prosecutor or other officials of the legal system.
I also work with individuals who are being victimized in a violent relationship, be it emotional or physical abuse. I will assist you in understanding what is actually happening; violence can be so devastating that you can get a) overwhelmed and then confused what you should so, or b) so intimidated that you believe yourself to be too powerless to escape. I will assist you in making a decision when or even if you should leave, and how you should most safely do so. Such decisions are often tactical–safety concerns rather than psychological issues, but in either case, I will provide the consultation necessary for you to do what needs to be done. Finally, I will assist you in gathering your resources, so you find yourself to be strong enough to make the best decision for you (and often for your children).
When necessary – and only with your permission – I will consult with other experts in threat management, including law enforcement, to ensure that you can achieve safety and well-being.
Please note: This is not psychotherapy; it is consultation. I try to assist people in difficult situations. Therefore, I try to work expeditiously, and although psychologically-informed, I am engaged to problem-solve with you, and that includes giving you direct advice. Although emotional issues can certainly arise–issues that I am committed to assisting you–this work is primarily a consultation concerned with figuring out the best way to establish a better life for you and your loved ones.
And also – although I have gained a reputation working in such extreme situations as described above, I definitely am happy to work with people struggling with issues that are not on the ragged edge of life, but are tough to deal with, nonetheless.
Logistics
I am only working through electronic media as Skype, Facetime, Zoom or Facebook Messenger for the full range of services described on this site. When filling out the contact page, include your time zone, best times to reach you, and the means to do so. My standard fee on online consultation is $120 per hour, billed in ¼ hour increments. When filling out the contact page, include your time zone, best times to reach you, and the means (online method) to do so.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Although the time limit is open, sometimes several hours, this consultation is a single, one-time session. The session is ‘as long as it takes.’ Rather than fostering dependency, I wish you to acquire the necessary strength to not need consultation. Paradoxically, this is best achieved in a longer sessions often two, even three hours, which comes to a natural close, either when sufficient work as been done. We can certainly architect a session to a specific time limit based on your financial situation. It is then my responsibility to ‘titrate’ the session so that it comes to a completion point at a specific time. If it is necessary to go over that time, I assume responsibility for that and will not charge you beyond a pre-agreed time.
Books To Supplement Consultation Regarding Extreme Situations
I have released a number of books concerning safety in extreme situations – the appropriate book will be a pre-requisite for consultation
- Among them are a series of thirteen, profession-specific books on de-escalation of aggressive individuals and those suffering from mental illness, specific to the profession or role of life that you are in. Of particular relevance to many is In the Eye of the Hurricane, the book most relevant to families concerned about the wellbeing of a loved one with mental illness, or for therapists and case managers to work with families in this area.
- Also extremely relevant are two books THE COORDINATOR (for law enforcement and military) and THE ACCORD AGENT (for the worksite), in situations where, for the benefit of all, you must take the lead role with people who have problematic ways of interacting and who may not trust you.
- Final Chapters, for those facing end of life issues, particularly in regards to loved ones.