About |
Life experience brought me into the field of counseling psychology in 1998, when one of my children was diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. I was inspired by what therapists were doing to help, and I became fascinated with how the mind works. I wanted to learn and to help others. Along the way, I learned how to decrease and manage my own anxiety, and to heal from past adverse events. My personal experiences, including raising and advocating for two children (now adults) on the autistic spectrum, deeply inform my work as a clinician.
Since 2010, I have had the privilege of working with many individuals, providing support through genuine understanding, and knowledge of an array of therapeutic techniques. My primary modalities are Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) which provides very fast relief, typically in 2 - 5 sessions, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which teaches how to self-counsel. My approach to CBT is structured, comprehensive, and interactive in a way that enables thorough understanding of your personal thought process, and develops strategies for making the changes that you want to make.
Prior to starting my practice, I worked with a broad range of issues in intensive outpatient programs as a therapist and clinical supervisor. I've worked with individuals, families, and groups, and presented at conferences including the New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) and the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) conferences.
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Certifications
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My Philosophy |
I consider a number of elements to be essential such as self-compassion, mindfulness, body relaxation, deep breathing, and visualization. I believe everyone can benefit from calming and encouraging self-talk. Taking a helicopter view to think about our thinking, allows us to understand how our gears are turning so to speak. We might imagine thoughts as leaves floating down a stream or as birds flying across the sky; they are transient and fleeting. We can allow ourselves to feel our feelings, also noting their impermanence. Learning to view our thoughts and feelings with a nonjudgmental spirit is an invaluable goal in therapy.
Top Down, Bottom Up...
The primary modalities I utilize are opposites in a way - cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is from the higher part of the brain down, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is from the lower part up. These approaches are perfect complements to each other.
The primary modalities I utilize are opposites in a way - cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is from the higher part of the brain down, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is from the lower part up. These approaches are perfect complements to each other.
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ART can process memory in a healthy way, separating facts from images, emotions, and body sensations, so that recollections from the past are no longer distressing.
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Some issues call primarily for CBT, and some for ART. My clients typically become familiar with both, and we decide together when to take the cognitive approach and when to do an ART session. The visualization, deep breathing, and bilateral stimulation elements of ART can also be used for processing the body sensations that accompany strong emotions, often resulting in quick and effective relief.