Relationship Issues
You don't have to continue to feel lonely and disconnected from others. You may be in a committed relationship yet still feel alone and unfulfilled. Some of the problems you encounter may derive from your difficulties identifying and appropriately communicating your needs to others.
You must also be willing to recognize and work on your own issues. We all have “blind spots”. In our work together, the characteristic ways you deal with your emotions and your relationships will become evident. I will share my observations about you, at times challenging you in a supportive way, to help you overcome your psychological barriers to personal growth and greater intimacy.
Medical Problems/Chronic Illness
Individuals living with chronic medical or psychiatric issues must work harder than others to make progress towards their goals in life. Sometimes, just doing “the basics” requires more effort than most people can appreciate. The core issue is: “How do you deal with the hand that you are dealt?"
I believe that psychotherapy can have a huge impact on people’s abilities to maximize their functioning. We all have unique personalities that impact how we handle the challenges in our lives. Some people feel guilty about asking for help that would make their lives easier, while others have developed the predominant view of themselves as impaired and have lost touch with what they CAN do.
I have worked for over twenty years with the Southern New York – New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I run an ongoing support group, do therapy with numerous individual clients, and have done a variety of presentations.
Substance Abuse
Alcohol and drugs are so popular because they help people to feel temporarily better psychologically and socially. The tricky question is: When does use become abuse? With the help of caring others, you will need to evaluate how much your substance use is interfering with your psychological, physical, social, academic or vocational functioning.
If you were to seek help, a thorough assessment would be done and I would make recommendations to you regarding the level of intervention I thought was indicated. While participation in a twelve step program and the fellowship that accompanies it can be extremely helpful, some individuals have trouble relating to that approach.
Psychotherapy can be a vital part of a recovery plan. Many of the “twelve steps” emphasize self improvement, the importance of examining and changing “defects of character”, perceptions of ourselves and others, and our patterns of interaction. These are also the goals of psychotherapy: to help you lead a “sober” life, psychologically and socially.
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Only recently has the prevalence of men who have been sexually abused been adequately recognized. A combination of psychological and cultural factors has kept men from feeling comfortable coming forward to share their painful experiences. Increasingly, courageous men have begun to discuss their secrets.
Frequently, there are serious psychological and interpersonal consequences from this abuse. Victims often have significant difficulties with intimate relationships. Since a profound betrayal has occurred, the ability to trust others may be severely compromised. Issues with people in authority can be fraught with difficulties. One’s gender and sexual identity as well as sexual behavior are often fraught with anxiety and confusion.
In an environment of safety and trust, the impact of these painful experiences on you and your current life can be explored. Through this process, you can develop a greater capacity to handle your emotions and your relationships in healthier ways.
Adolescents
If you are a parent reading this, you’re probably worried about your teen. He or she may be acting very differently and you’re not sure if this change is something more than “normal” adolescence. Serious problems in school, with friends, or at home, clearly signal trouble. Other times, withdrawal or irritability call attention to the adolescent’s struggle within. These signs, dramatic and subtle, need to be recognized and acted on by you.
Through meetings with the adolescents and the parents, separately and together, I will make an assessment about what kind of therapy will be most effective, if it is needed at all. Your teenager may need intervention; you may need guidance or both.
Psychotherapy offers adolescents the opportunity to explore the very complicated feelings, fears and aspirations that stir within them. I can help them find a better balance between fun and responsibility and to unlock their psychological, academic and social potential. Nothing, however, can happen unless the teenager is comfortable speaking with me about what’s REALLY going on. Confidentiality is crucial. My vast experience and my comfortable manner of interacting with adolescents have enabled me to establish rapport and be effective with even the most resistant teens.
