If you have a patient, wise and understanding friend who will listen to your problems, you are very lucky indeed. But often, a shoulder to lean on is not enough. A professionally trained therapist has the objectivity and skills to help you uncover the issues that are really
bothering you, see the patterns in your life that led to your unhappiness, and help you recognize and change those patterns.
Psychotherapy is a process that focuses on growth and change. Talking about our issues, assessing and understanding our feelings, makes it possible to become more aware of the source of our problems. This awareness enables us to make the most out of the options we have available to us. It also helps us to find ways to deal more effectively with our feelings and to choose the way we behave in every aspect of our lives. A good friend will offer understanding, love and comfort—nothing to sneeze at, but not enough.
The greatest benefit of psychotherapy over other treatment options is that you are an active and vital participant in your own healing process. Because of this, and a myriad of other factors that may impede or accelerate your progress, there is no demonstratable way to guarantee success in therapy for everyone. However, with the right therapist, many people have changed their lives dramatically through psychotherapy.
Because each of us are unique, there is no single answer to this question. The length of therapy depends on factors such as the types of issues you are working on, how long you have been struggling with your problems, the complexity of your situation, and what you are looking to accomplish. Sometimes brief interventions are very helpful. In other cases, months and years of work are invested in an in-depth exploration of your personal conflicts. The choice is yours and it can be discussed with your therapist.
Confidentiality is basic to therapy and the patient has the legal right to control access to information about their treatment. I am required
to keep our sessions confidential; even the fact that you are, or are not, my client is confidential. There are a few specific exceptions to
confidentiality which all therapists are required to follow. If confidentiality is a concern, please call me and we can discuss the specifics
over the phone before starting therapy.
Marriage and Family Therapists are mental health professionals with a minimum of a Master' s Degree and two years of supervised clinical experience. MFTs are trained and licensed to independently diagnose and treat mental and substance abuse problems. Trained in psychotherapy and family systems, MFTs focus on understanding their client' s symptoms and interactional patterns within their environment, and treat from a relationship perspective that incorporates family systems. Go to www.aamft.org for more information.
Each session is 45 minutes in length. At the initial session, clients are asked to come 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time to review and complete standard intake forms.
Call me at: (212) 500-5970 to discuss options for therapy. Leave a message with your name and number along with the best time to reach you and I will call you back within 24 hours of your call. I will address any questions you may have and set up an appointment.