individual therapy
People make the decision to enter therapy for a variety of reasons such as feeling disconnected from others or alone, dissatisfaction in life, anxiety or indecision about life choices, and trauma history among many others.
I integrative several different modalities to create a tailored approach to therapy that is “just right” for what you need to heal and grow. I think of this as a “recipe” of sorts- some people may need more of one approach, while others may need something different. This enables me to be flexible, creative and listen deeply to what you need in this process.
I combine several emotion focused and experiential approaches through Schema therapy which includes chair work, imagery rescripting and somatic interventions, Internal Family Systems (IFS) where we deeply explore different “parts” of our selves, and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) to establish a felt experience of the therapist-client relational connection. I am warm, active, engaged and transparent about the work we are doing in the session.
couples Therapy
Can I meet this other individual as a person who is in process of becoming,
or will I be bound by his past and by my past? If, in my encounter with him, I am dealing with him as an immature child,
an ignorant student, a neurotic personality, or a psychopath,
each of these concepts of mine limits what he can be in the relationship.
If I accept the person as something fixed, already diagnosed and classified, already shaped by his past,
then I am doing my part to confirm his limited hypothesis.
If I accept him as a process of becoming, then I am doing what I can to confirm or make real his potentialities.”
On Becoming a Person - Carl R. Rogers (1961)
I work with couples to help clarify and identify each person’s part of the “tango” in our unique relationship dance. My primary approach in working with couples is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). In EFT we initially work to name your unhelpful cycle or pattern, and de-escalate and then repair and help fortify your relationship bond. Every couple has a “cycle” which is unique to them. While naming the negative cycle, we will link coping modes and meaning making to behavior learned growing up, and understand each individuals’ deeper emotional needs within the relationship. For couples who want to remain together, we work together towards creating a space where we can begin to investigate what reconnection looks and feels like, and can grow and support each other’s needs. I also support couples who want to discern if remaining together is right for them or if uncoupling is a healthier option.
Child and Adolescent Therapy
Children and tweens/teens can have highly fluctuating emotions, quickly changing needs and limited ways of communicating those needs. As parents, time is increasingly limited and we are pulled in so many direction which can be very challenging to balance our children’s needs as well as our own. I work with children to help them identify their needs through play, art, experiential techniques to help them work on understanding and articulating these needs to parents, teachers and peers. I work with parents to identify how children activate us, and how to take care of our own needs so that we can tend to our children and be present and effective caregivers.
I believe that for effective change to happen in a family system, all members must change and adapt to some degree. I collaborate with parents during this process to identify and attune to their children’s needs while also setting realistic limits. Establishing new roles within a system can be a scary and intense process for all those involved, but often necessary for growth. I am right there with you in the process to provide support, reflection and guidance.
Integrative Life Coaching
For individuals outside of New York, New Jersey and Arizona, or internationally, I can offer integrative life coaching drawing upon my education and experience above.
Clinical supervision
For social workers in New Jersey and New York, I am certified to supervise your hours towards acquiring your LCSW.