Everyone feels stuck, anxious or overwhelmed at some point in their lives. The problem is we never want to admit that – not to others and especially to ourselves. And over time, we build an emotional wall that results in sadness and alienation. I am a born-listener and very empathetic by nature. Let me help you take down your wall.
Here is a list of some of the therapeutic approaches I use in my practice:
Again, I want to stress that there is no “one size fits all” approach in therapy. In some cases, clients find it helpful to engage in multiple types of counseling and coaching. Other Clients progress from one form of therapy to another as their needs change.
I grew up in New Jersey in the 1970s in a very traditional Jewish family. I moved to Florida in 1991 after graduating Hofstra Law School in New York. I practiced law for about 2o years before going back to school to get my degree as a mental health counselor – I already had a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.
During my years of legal practice, I always volunteered at homeless shelters in southern Florida doing everything from slinging hash to conducting individual and group counseling under a trained therapist. I always knew I would go back to school and become a therapist. I finally had the chance about 15 years ago and I took it. I’ve been practicing therapy full-time ever since getting licensed in Florida as a mental health counselor about 10 years ago.
I am active in the community and still volunteer at homeless shelters in the area. I am married and have 2 adult children from my first marriage and 2 more from my second marriage. I certainly know the pain of divorce, losing parents and loved ones and having to start over emotionally and financially. But I also know that you can be rebuild and change the road you are on.
In my free time, I love kayaking, camping and biking. I’m really into the outdoors and encourage all my clients to enjoy the real world around us. I also enjoy cooking, especially Mediterranean and Asian style cuisine.
In our first session, we will briefly introduce ourselves to each other. I will ask you some questions about where you grew up, your family, what you do for a living and what you want from your life. Hopefully, you will ask me some questions as well. After all, therapy is a learning experience for both of us and you should know about me as possible. From there, we will talk about why you are seeking therapy right now, and what, if any, immediate goals you have for therapy. That way, I will know what your expectation from therapy are and how I can support you more fully.
I feel I am especially helpful in dealing with anxiety, depression and identity issues. We will delve into family history, childhood experiences and traumas to develop a better sense of how you came to believe what we now accept as truth. But is it really your emotional truth, or is it holding you back from being the "authentic you"? As we build our understanding and acceptance of the "authentic you" , we can begin to formulate a set of goals for areas identified for change to allow for personal growth. That's how we challenge beliefs that do not work and hold us back and not allow us to grow which is so basic and necessary for life. That is how we grow. Helping you find that inner strength and resolve is what makes me uniquely qualified to help.
I have never been a big believer in "one-size fitting all" and I continue to believe that labels work best for clothing, not people. I specialize in integrative individual and couples therapy for the mind and body. The most important question that faces clients when they enter into therapy is “does it work”? and "does my therapist care"? My goal is to really listen to my client and provide honest support so that my clients feel the support they need to make the changes they know they need to make. To me, that's what evidence-based practice is really about. After all, being accepted, appreciated and respected is what we are all looking for in life. That is the whole point of my therapy practice.
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I will try my best to accommodate your request and will be in touch ASAP.