Clinical Services
Psychotherapy
My theoretical approach has a psychodynamic relationally based focus. I believe a person’s interpersonal relationships whether at home, work or socially, impact on one’s sense of well-being. Through the mutual therapeutic relationship constructed in the therapy session, insights and behavioral changes leading to healing and transformation can occur.
As necessary I include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnotherapy and mindfulness skills training to augment our work together.
Medication management
At times a person needs a medication in addition to psychotherapy to help ease depression or anxiety symptoms. Many individuals feel there is a stigma attached to taking medication as the cultural and societal norms promote an attitude of “pull yourself up by your boot straps”. This can be a detrimental attitude when a person feels overwhelmed by ruminations, obsessive thoughts, panic attacks, sleep difficulties and loss of pleasure in daily life over a period of a few weeks. Sometimes these feelings may lead to thoughts of harming oneself that can be dangerous if left untreated. Research has shown that medication accompanied by psychotherapy can transform these thoughts and feelings.
Depression is the leading cause of work absences in the United States. The cost both financially and personally to individuals, their families and society is enormous.
Hypnotherapy
According to ASCH ( American Society of Clinical Hypnosis) “hypnosis is a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention”. In collaboration with the patient I teach self- hypnosis or the ability on one’s own to generate a state of inner calmness through imagery or other sensations. It has been demonstrated that similar areas in the brain are activated when a person is imagining or actually living an experience. This ability to imagine an actual experience is used by athletes and other professionals to enhance their potential. Hypnosis has been used to assist in healing anxiety in panic attacks, phobias, fear of flying, smoking cessation, sleep problems and weight reduction to name a few.
For more information visit the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis website
Mindfulness Meditation
There is a growing body of research showing the positive impact on wellbeing of daily mindfulness meditation. It’s simple to learn, ready at your fingertips to be used at any time or any place.
By focusing on the breath for a few minutes daily one can develop an awareness of how one’s thoughts and feelings affect one’s emotional and physical state.
CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy assists the person in identifying self defeating thoughts and feelings that lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety. There is a large body of evidence demonstrating that for some individuals CBT leads to relief of these symptoms. With practice the individual learns to identify thoughts that catastrophize, overgeneralize, distort reality and how these reactions lead to negative emotional states.
Loss and Mourning
I have worked extensively with adults grieving the loss of a pregnancy or child, serious medical illnesses and end of life challenges for individuals and families struggling with the emotional issues related to these situations. From the initial contact, I am available as a source of support, as people learn to negotiate the seemingly insurmountable conditions involved.
Trauma
I have many years of experience working with traumas both big and small. Hypnotherapy, EMDR and Mindfulness in a supportive environment have all been shown to assist in developing skills to alleviate traumatic symptoms such as PTSD.
An article in the New York Times discusses some promising results in treating veterans with meditation and mindfullness techniques. Read the full article here: For Veterans, a Surge of New Treatments for Trauma