ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL
Approach to Therapy
I am often asked about my approach to therapy by prospective clients. This can be a difficult question to answer since it will depend on what your need or needs are that are being addressed. Working on personal growth or developing insight, for example, may require a very different approach than treating panic attacks or phobias. I will work collaboratively with you, and together we will discuss goals and how to work towards them. We will also discuss the time frame needed to address your concerns. While some therapists emphasize active listening, my approach is highly interactive and you will be given regular feedback and opinions.
In my approach to therapy, especially when pursuing personal growth and insight, emphasis is placed on developing an ability to be present and live your life more fully now. For some people, obstacles like painful experiences, trauma, family history, mood or health problems, or various life changes make life more emotionally difficult and interfere with the ability to be present and enjoy one’s life. Addressing and moving through those obstacles can enrich the quality of your mental and physical health. In most cases it is possible to address your difficulties without digging through the distant past. If your past is adversely affecting you now, the current problems can be addressed more directly, with a non-judgmental understanding of how you came to this moment. This “present-centered” approach draws from existential, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral traditions. I also emphasize developing an increased understanding of the relationship between mind and body, as well as cultivating a healthy lifestyle. My approach is informed by both empirical psychological research and time-tested principles from Eastern and Western models of mental health. The focus of our work will, of course, depend on your specific needs. If you would like additional information about what this would mean for you, please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone.
Many researchers who study the benefits of psychotherapy believe that the single most important factor in finding the right psychologist or therapist relates closely to how comfortable you feel when sitting down with him or her to address your concerns. This interpersonal connection is often more important than a particular approach or technique. An important question, for example, is: can my psychologist relate to me and give me meaningful feedback? Because of this, I would be glad to speak with you on the phone prior to you making an appointment. I generally recommend that people looking for a psychologist meet with two or three professionals and see with whom they feel the most comfortable.
My approach to treatment is consistent with the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association, of which I have been a member for since 1998.
In my approach to therapy, especially when pursuing personal growth and insight, emphasis is placed on developing an ability to be present and live your life more fully now. For some people, obstacles like painful experiences, trauma, family history, mood or health problems, or various life changes make life more emotionally difficult and interfere with the ability to be present and enjoy one’s life. Addressing and moving through those obstacles can enrich the quality of your mental and physical health. In most cases it is possible to address your difficulties without digging through the distant past. If your past is adversely affecting you now, the current problems can be addressed more directly, with a non-judgmental understanding of how you came to this moment. This “present-centered” approach draws from existential, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral traditions. I also emphasize developing an increased understanding of the relationship between mind and body, as well as cultivating a healthy lifestyle. My approach is informed by both empirical psychological research and time-tested principles from Eastern and Western models of mental health. The focus of our work will, of course, depend on your specific needs. If you would like additional information about what this would mean for you, please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone.
Many researchers who study the benefits of psychotherapy believe that the single most important factor in finding the right psychologist or therapist relates closely to how comfortable you feel when sitting down with him or her to address your concerns. This interpersonal connection is often more important than a particular approach or technique. An important question, for example, is: can my psychologist relate to me and give me meaningful feedback? Because of this, I would be glad to speak with you on the phone prior to you making an appointment. I generally recommend that people looking for a psychologist meet with two or three professionals and see with whom they feel the most comfortable.
My approach to treatment is consistent with the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association, of which I have been a member for since 1998.