My Approach to Helping
I have 22 years experience working productively with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and sexual orientations. Our job together is to identify dysfunctional patterns that contribute to—even perpetuate—your difficulties. The main focus of therapy is to remove inner and outer obstacles that prevent you from reaching your goals and having better relationships.
My approach is supportive, empathetic and, above all, pragmatic. While understanding the past is essential, change can only occur in the present. I will challenge you to be an active partner in therapy and to work toward ongoing insight, growth, and positive change both in and outside of sessions.
My experience ranges from psychotherapy with adults, teens, and couples to counseling trauma survivors with acute PTSD. Whether you seek to make a major change, overcome a life blow or obstacle, or to break a chronic pattern, I will meet you where you are at.
Please note that after years of counseling and assessment in offices, I‘ve recently moved into a different space: video. Active listening in a safe, private setting is foundational to this work. I’ve learned that the catalytic elements of good therapy can thrive via video too.
More Info About My Practice
Save yourself a trip! I currently focus on video therapy (or phone) with both my NYC & NM clients.
Fees: $150-$250 (sliding scale)
Out of network reimbursement provided by many PPO insurance plans
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I am especially experienced and oriented to working on relationship issues. I have many years experience working as a couples counselor, as well my own long-term relationship experience, which also informs my work as a therapist.
As well, I have an expertise in finding innovative and collaborative ways to treat PTSD.
My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy
The purpose of psychotherapy is to help you overcome personal obstacles (emotional, practical, historical) that you have been unable to transcend on your own?or with the help of significant others. If you feel stuck in your personal growth, psychotherapy is probably for you.
My Role as a Therapist
To help to facilitate positive change.
My Guiding Ethical Principles
The most important guiding principle for me is integrity. On one hand, that means always bearing in mind the role you have assigned me: to be of real (and lasting) help. My actions?to the best of my abilities?should never interfere with that. But integrity also means something else: to be consistent in my beliefs and interventions. For example, if I meet with one member of a couple separately, I strive to remain honest in my approach, even if some of my response may be unwelcome in the short-term. Again, my goal is to be of real and lasting use to you. Overall, behaving with integrity means that I try to be as authentic and direct as possible while maintaining compassion and empathy. At times, that is quite the balancing act.
Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist
It is essential you believe that the therapist's mission or agenda for therapy is congruent with yours, and that heshe employs the methodology and has the skills to help you achieve your goals.
The Duration and Frequency of Therapy
The simplest answer is that, ideally therapy continues as long as it's useful to the client. Specifically, the duration of a productive therapy can range between two months and five or more years?meeting weekly or, sometimes, biweekly. Ultimately, the client of course determines when the therapy is complete. If we have been working in a productive & collaborative manner, it's likely that it will also feel "right" to me when the client decides to suspend. I say suspend rather than stop because my clients will periodically return (sometimes years later) when they feel that there is a need.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.