LMHC, 27 years of experience
New to Grow
I am Marcia, a Licensed Mental Health Therapist with a Master's degree and I have been practicing in New York for 25 years. I absolutely love what I do!!! My goal is to put myself out of a job which I accomplish by helping you work through whatever is blocking you from living your best life. I have worked in a variety of settings as a K-12 school based therapist, as an individual, family, and group therapist in a therapeutic boarding school for high school and college students with addictions, as a private therapist working with individuals and couples. I have also worked as a Military Family Life counselor both in New York as well as overseas. This has provided me with multi-cultural experience learning from and being challenged by clients with racial and cultural differences from my own. In addition to my master's program, I have post-graduate training in family systems therapy, play therapy, and couples counseling.
In our first session, I will listen deeply to your struggles and concerns and hopefully make you feel comfortable in sharing what is true for you. In this first session you will get an experience of what it is like to work with me. Every therapist has their own style and a good fit is essential. At anytime, if you feel that I am not the right person for you, do not hesitate to let me know. I want the best for you and will not take it personally. Grow therapy will help you find a better fit.
My greatest strengths are my compassion, belief in the individuals I am working with, my openness to learn from my clients, and working to deeply understand from my client's perspective. People who have worked with me in therapy often comment that I have been able to help them in ways they have not experienced before. I think what makes me an excellent therapist is all of the work I've done on my self over the years. I will also freely share the ups and downs of my own experience if appropriate. Clients tell me that I have a good sense of humor too.
I enjoy working with people across the developmental spectrum. Life can be challenging at times, especially through significant transitions. It is easy to become overwhelmed with stressors and lack clarity in regard to overcoming the obstacles one is experiencing. The qualities that help a client to achieve that are openness, honesty (it is okay to get angry with me - we can work through it together), willingness to take a look at oneself, learn and slowly experiment with possible changes. I encourage clients to take what works and let the rest go.
The heart and center of my therapeutic training is unconditional positive regard for each individual, regardless of their history. I believe that people have the ability to heal their psyche and that the answers are within each person. Creating a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a non-judgmental environment is a top priority. Clients can then free themselves from disabling assumptions, attitudes, and behaviors in order to live fuller lives. Humanistic therapy focuses on each person's unique experience which is shaped by one's individual history, beliefs and values. It is not therapist directed, it is based on a collaborative relationship with the client. Therapists genuinely share their thoughts/suggestions and gently challenge clients. In this process it is vital that each client listens within to see if a suggestion fits for them. Through this process, clients learn to trust and empower themselves to make self-directed changes in their lives.
Couples counseling is one of my favorite modalities. It is an honor and a joy to work through this sometimes very difficult process with couples and see the level of growth they are able to attain. I work across the spectrum of couple issues from premarital counseling through infidelity and sometimes the compassionate ending of a relationship. Some couples need a few sessions to get back on track. Others need a significant amount depending on the nature of the issue and the amount of time they have been struggling. Along with communication and conflict resolution, we will explore personality type, family of origin issues, history of previous relationships, and other stressors present. In couples counseling neither individual is my client, it is the relationship that is the focus of the work. Each person needs to look at their own individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are impacting the relationship rather than focusing on what their partner needs to change. Magic happens when both partners learn to do that but it takes work to get there. I want to empower you to do so. Regardless of the issue(s) present, if you are both true to your process, you will experience a whole new level of relationship. If only one person does the work, that person will eventually have a wonderful relationship with a new partner. The person who is unwilling or unable to address their own issues may change partners but the same issues will unfortunately resurface. The choice is for each individual to make.
Family therapy is different than individual therapy as there is no one identified person that is the "problem." The interactions between family members are explored and addressed including the origins of their personal interactional style. When one person in a family system is struggling, everyone in that system is impacted. It is vital to address these interactional problems in order to produce growth and harmony in the family system. Each person in the system has a right to be heard and share their individual experiences within that system.
Internal family systems therapy believes that there are understandable reasons and positive intent for any so called "maladaptive beliefs and behaviors." It is not about judging oneself, it is about exploring and healing the underlying reasons why these behaviors needed to be adopted. This type of therapy leads to reconnecting with the larger energy of Self as the answers and healing power are within each person. This self-acceptance and integration of the parts of us that are at war within is vital to experience harmony both internally and externally. Addressing that internal struggle is a part of all of the various types of therapy I offer.