I am an LCSW, licensed in both New York and California, and have been working as a clinician for over 20 years. I have worked with diverse groups of clients, from toddlers to seniors and every age in between. I have also worked with couples extensively. My style is very interactive and I consider my role to be a partner with my clients - we work together to set goals, figure out strategies and work towards resolutions. I am also a firm believer that a good match is crucial to the therapeutic process - we both need to feel a connection and level of comfort as far as a working relationship for the therapy to be effective. Interested in seeing if we are a good match to work together? Please feel free to contact me and/ or schedule an appointment, we can chat and decide.
The first session to me is information gathering. I will want to know why you are seeking therapy now, what is bothering you most, and how can we best find a solution. If we work together past the first session. I also want to make sure that I am a good match for each and every client, so I ask new clients at the end of the first session for their input as to whether or not they feel there is a good working connection between us.
I have been told that I am easy to talk to, completely non-judgemental and that clients easily and quickly feel that they can trust me with any issue that may be bothering them. I often will give "homework" so that my clients will be able to use new insights and skills in their lives outside of the therapy hours, which serves as a test of sorts as to whether we are moving in the right direction with our work. I try to think outside of the box. And I have a good sense of humor, which I feel is crucial to working with others.
Having an eclectic methodology for treatment allows me to utilize all of my training and experience with clients to create a tailored therapeutic experience for each individual. The treatment methodologies are use most often include CBT, insight oriented therapy, psychodynamic therapy and psychoeducational. I find that having education and skills from multiple methodologies helps me be very flexible with each individual client and their needs and adapt. His client needs change over the course of treatment. In my 20+ years of experience, I have learned and continue to learn new skills which allows me to grow as a therapist ever increasing skills to each client.
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, looks at a client's symptoms and helps clients understand how to learn new patterns of behavior to alleviate depressive and anxious symptoms, among others.