Individual Psychotherapy

I provide individual therapy to people from many walks of life. Individual therapy offers the most personalized approach to your specific needs.

Group therapy can be an excellent complement to individual therapy or can stand alone depending on your circumstances. Members of a group gain a sense of connection and understanding from others with similar experiences.

I am not currently offering groups in my practice, but refer to colleagues when the interest or need arise.

First Responders

I have worked with responders to the attacks of September 11, 2001 since 2012. In this role, I have provided a range of therapeutic interventions to:

• Law Enforcement
• Firefighters
• EMS Workers
• Active Duty Military & Veterans

Through this work, I have developed a deep understanding of the impact of repeated exposure to trauma and the unique challenges facing men and women in these fields.

Dancers & Performing Artists

The challenges that dancers and other performing artists experience throughout all stages of their careers can be extremely difficult. My pursuit of a career as a professional dancer led me north to New York City, and took me on a personal journey through a tough career transition. This experience has given me a uniquely personal perspective on helping performing artists through these struggles.

Anxiety

Anxiety produces feelings of fear or apprehension that can interfere with how you function and can be overwhelming. Common symptoms include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling “on-edge”
• Racing thoughts
• Persistent worry
• Irritability
• Avoiding feared situations or “triggers”
• Body tension

Depression

Depression is a persistent low, sad, blue mood that may include the following:

• Sleeping too much or having insomnia
• Fatigue
• Loss of interest in things that you normally enjoy
• Changes in appetite
• Hopelessness
• Emptiness
• Moving slowly
• Suicidal thoughts

Life Transitions

Life is a continuous process of change, and some transitions can be deeply challenging. I am able to help with the challenges posed by these and other changes:

• Job loss
• Career change
• Marriage/ Commitment in relationship
• Becoming a parent
• Children leaving home
• Retirement
• Divorce/End of relationship

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Becoming a parent can be a wondrous and magical experience, but 1 in 5 parents experience distress in the form of anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress, or general difficulty with the transition to parenthood. This can manifest as:

• Low mood
• Anxiety
• Isolation
• Exhaustion
• Hopelessness
• Questions about identity

If you are experiencing any of these, you are not alone, and help is available.

Post Traumatic Stress

If you have been exposed to a traumatic event (man made or natural disaster, physical, verbal, or sexual violence, combat, etc.) it is normal to experience a range of reactions in the aftermath. If these reactions do not resolve over time, you may be experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and help through therapy can lead to recovery. The following are symptoms that you might be experiencing:

• Nightmares about the event
• Intrusive memories about the event
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Exaggerated startle response
• Hypervigilance
• Distancing from loved ones
• Numbness
• Domestic Violence

Relationship Difficulties

Relationships can be a source of joy and connection, but can also be complicated, difficult and sometimes painful. Patterns often emerge in our relationships, some positive and others that can lead to significant problems. We can work together to better understand your patterns and to work toward healthy and fulfilling relationships.

Please reach out if you are facing relationship problems including:

• Difficulty with commitment
• Low self-esteem in relationships
• Interpersonal conflict
• Co-dependence
• Poor communication
• Stress related relationship tension
• Sex and intimacy problems
• Many other relationship challenges

Managing Chronic Illness

Through my work with 9/11 responders, I have offered therapy and guidance with managing the emotional challenges created by chronic illness.

If you are experiencing difficulty managing a new or existing diagnosis, please reach out.

Alcohol and Substance Misuse

If you struggle with alcohol or substance misuse and are motivated to address this difficulty, there are a range of treatment options for various stages in treatment.

I work with individuals in recovery, though those with active use may be best served with a specialist in this area. I am happy to discuss whether this is an appropriate venue for your treatment.

And Many Others

The range of challenges that life can send our way is endless.

Your distress may not have a specific known origin, and seeking an understanding of this may be the primary aim of therapy.

You may also be driven to seek therapy as a means of getting to know yourself and how you operate in the world better.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT, is a form of talk therapy that is based on the premise that our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are connected. The overarching goal of CBT is to change patterns of problematic or distorted thinking and behavior that lead to distress.

CBT treatment has been supported by a large research base to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, relationship difficulties and many other disorders.

In CBT treatment, your therapist will provide a structured, time-limited and goal oriented approach to addressing your problems.

Exploratory Psychotherapy

Exploratory therapy, or psychodynamic therapy is based on the longest standing of modern therapies, and focuses on unconscious mental and emotional processes as they manifest in individuals’ current behavior. The primary goals of this work are to develop self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present patterns in order to improve relationships and to live a more rewarding life.

In psychodynamic therapy, your therapist will seek to be neutral, and will encourage you to explore unconscious patterns, and how the past is connected to them.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy developed by psychologist Marsha M. Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder. It is now known to be effective in the treatment of a range of disorders and difficulties including:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Substance abuse
• Eating disorders

DBT is a structured treatment that typically includes individual sessions with a therapist and a DBT skills training group during which participants learn skills that fall under four areas:

• Mindfulness
• Interpersonal Effectiveness
• Emotion regulation
• Distress tolerance

Standard DBT treatment may also include the availability of phone coaching to help clients who need specific guidance on using skills in a current situation.

In individual DBT, you and your therapist will focus on identifying target behaviors and on effectively applying DBT skills in your day-to-day life to improve relationships and emotional functioning.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness, which can be broadly described as present moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, body sensations, while taking a non-judgmental stance, is a concept that has roots in ancient traditions.

Mindfulness is a component of several therapeutic interventions including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, but is also a technique that can be utilized by anyone at any time to improve self-awareness and connection to the present moment.

Mindfulness may reduce stress and emotional difficulty by increasing individuals’ ability to control, rather than be controlled by their thoughts. This approach has gained in popular recognition for its applicability across various settings, including mental and medical health settings, schools, businesses, and the military.

Supportive Psychotherapy

Supportive psychotherapy is a form of therapy that provides a nurturing and supportive environment to help clients manage their problems.

During supportive psychotherapy your therapist will provide you with reassurance and encouragement, information, and a space to talk about difficult thoughts and feelings.

Supportive therapy may be most helpful when you are experiencing a period of crisis, or if you are looking for an approach that will focus on finding relief and comfort without probing deeply into the past.

EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that aims to help individuals to recover from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.

EMDR is different than talk therapy. After a history is taken focused on experiences that have led to negative self-beliefs, eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation, like tapping) are used during a part of sessions in which a target memory has been identified by the therapist and client.

The client is asked to to hold different aspects of that event or thought in mind and to either use eyes to track the therapist’s hand or to use tapping motions to create bilateral stimulation. This process is thought to be akin to the biological mechanism involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

In successful EMDR treatment, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level, and this is done without needing to talk through the details of a traumatic memory which for some can be overwhelming.