Our Approach to Therapy
In a society that emphasizes superficial values and material accomplishments, the development of increased self-awareness, healthy self-identity and the ability to build relationships based on mutual respect are essential for a life of quality and fulfillment. Our approach to therapy is designed accordingly.
Individual Therapy
You may be wondering, what exactly is psychotherapy and how can it be helpful? One way to think about it is that therapy is a process of determining your “usual.” In other words, figuring out exactly how you operate in the world, in your relationships and in your career. And then, through a combination of insight development and increased understanding of psychological theories and how they apply to you, figuring out what parts of your usual work well for you, and what parts you may want to change.
Many enter therapy because something has changed. Either a relationship has ended or shifted, a new relationship is beginning, something has changed at the office, a loved one has become ill, infidelity has been discovered, an important friendship has changed, a wedding date or another important upcoming occasion is causing anxiety, or any number of significant other life events are causing heightened emotions and/ or symptoms. Common symptoms include anxiety, depression, reduced or increased sleep, reduced or increased appetite, or lack of concentration.
We have experience with all of these scenarios and know how to help people adjust to and effectively address whatever changes or life events have led them into therapy. We work with clients to set clear goals, teach communication enhancement and apply relevant psychological theories to help them meet their stated goals and build happier and more fulfilling lives.
Individual psychotherapy facilitates the development of insight about the underlying causes of depression and anxiety that may be holding one back from leading a productive and fulfilling life. Through establishing clinical goals and practicing new behaviors, adults can begin to reduce depression and anxiety, build self-esteem, and develop a productive self-identity.
Symptom Reduction and Substantive Change The first phase of therapy typically targets specific symptoms such as anxiety and depression. For some clients, therapy is brief and concludes once the early sessions help you get a handle on these symptoms. Other clients then choose to continue and focus on more substantive long-term changes that target both the internal and the relational experience.
Couples Therapy
Couples psychotherapy emphasizes strategies for understanding and reducing unproductive relational patterns, strengthening communication skills, and enhancing relational intimacy.
Couples frequently enter therapy because their career or child rearing demands have strained the marriage, because infidelity has occurred, because wedding planning is stressful, or because they need to improve their communication skills, rekindle their sex life or increase their degree of emotional intimacy. We have worked intensively and successfully with couples addressing each of these issues.
Couples begin by setting goals for areas in the relationship where they feel that change would be helpful. They work to gain insight about all that they contribute to their relationship. In other words, they pinpoint their part in what makes the relationship work well, and their part in the relationship’s challenges. Then, together, the couple works to build on the relationship’s strengths and address the challenges.
Our approach to couples therapy emphasizes that blame is not productive, and that sometimes a willingness to focus on yourself is the key to greater intimacy and happier relationships.
Communication enhancement is central to our approach to couples therapy, and we teach and practice various psychological theories and communication tools to help couples say what they need to say to one another in healthy, kind, thoughtful ways.
Group Therapy
Group psychotherapy provides a room of mirrors through which adults can begin to see the communication and relational patterns that are not serving them well. It offers an opportunity to work together to enhance the capacity for intimacy and to build a stronger sense of self.
Groups run anywhere from five to nine months, and include five to seven members.
Confidentiality is the most important rule of the group, and confidentiality contracts are signed and discussed in detail during the first group session.
Most clients do not enter therapy looking to participate in a group. However, if they choose to participate, they typically find the process incredibly helpful. Why? Because there is something powerful about hearing what your material brings up for others, and in noticing what other people’s material elicits in you. Group therapy can increase the pace through which individuals develop insights about themselves and then turn these insights into action. In other words, group therapy frequently speeds up the process through which clients meet their goals and make necessary changes in order to have a happier life.
Group therapy is also more affordable than individual or couples therapy. The weekly group meets on Sundays from 1pm to 2:30 pm and concludes in May, 2016. This group is full but a new group will begin in the fall.
Family Business & Corporate Consultation
Our relationship and family focused therapy practice is grounded in the psychological school of “systems theory,” which offers a productive and accessible lens through which to approach all forms of interpersonal challenges and organizational conflicts, particularly those that arise frequently in family businesses. These unique “systems” blend family dynamics (in all their dimensions) with the added stressors of running a successful and sustainable business. Inter-generational succession planning and compensation equity, as well as conflicts about strategic direction, frequently pose challenges to family businesses and the individual stakeholders within affected families.
As with any family “system,” family businesses can benefit from our approach to family therapy, which fosters enhanced communication skills, anxiety management and productive strategies to create meaningful change.
Our approach is based on the principle that we live, love and work in many different relational systems. Our household family and our workplace typically represent our primary systems, but our friendship circles, relatives, and families of origin are also important relationship groupings that impact daily life experience. One thing that all systemic units share is conscious and unconscious resistance to change.
Resistance to change is particularly relevant when exploring family business dynamics. Our approach is designed to support the best interests of the organization by helping members manage workplace anxiety, communicate effectively and perform at optimal levels.