Individual Psychotherapy
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is often referred to as Psychodynamic Therapy, which refers to the dynamics of personality development. Most New York city therapists are trained in personality development, but what is unusual about my practice is that I bring to it what I have learned from in-depth study of infants and their mothers or caregivers. As a result, my individual therapy is considered to be among the best therapies available in New York city. My background and approach I have been trained as a Clinical Social Worker, Freudian Psychoanalyst and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and is able to deliver an effective individual therapy in the upper west side. I pursued additional training in group psychotherapy, couples counseling and parent/infant/toddler psychotherapy. The theoretical ideas that guide my work, however, are primarily from the fields of Object Relations, Infant Observation, Attachment Theory and the work of Wilfred Bion. In many respects the “good enough” mother/caregiver-infant relationship constitutes the prototype of a therapeutic model with adults and couples. I bring to my work a sensitivity to the subtle ruptures and repairs that can go on minute to minute in the life of a newborn and its mother/father/caregiver. These ruptures and repairs and non-repairs shape early attachment. The patterns formed are embedded in our memories, our bodies, our feelings and thoughts. Most of this is non-verbal and by observing mothers and their babies, the trained observer becomes aware of the development of emotion and memory and the importance of rupture and repair. I carry this over to work with adolescents, adults and couples and am aware of the non-verbal communicating that goes on while observing and listening. Having been practicing a much more effective and deeper psychotherapy in New York, I am able to get to the source of the problem and offer a more long-standing solution and not just a quick fix to a problem. The psychoanalyst or psychoanalytic therapist makes use of the ‘here and now’ by exploring the patient’s inner experience and how it unfolds in daily life. The therapeutic relationship itself is a rich source of material to discuss in sessions, as aspects of it inevitably point to to underlying emotional conflicts. We might focus on unconscious emotions, wishes and fears that manifest in behavior and I interpret defensive strategies that block emotional awareness and growth. Such individual therapy has long-term benefits and helps people discover their core strength. What is therapy like? And what’s the difference between psychoanalysis and therapy? The most obvious difference between psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy is frequency of sessions. In psychoanalysis, frequency is 4-5 times per week and in a psychoanalytic psychotherapy it is 1-2 times per week. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is an insight-oriented approach that focuses on unconscious emotions, wishes, thoughts, fears. Therapeutic relating in psychoanalytic psychotherapy is based
on acceptance, empathic listening, understanding and a non-judgmental attitude. The therapist creates a safe, holding environment that facilitates trust. What good is therapy? To take the time for self-reflection, to be curious about what motivates your behavior, to examine your relationships and learn new ways to handle conflict, to break patterns you no longer want and to make different, more conscious choices in your life and relationships—this is a gift you can give yourself and those close to you. The therapeutic relationship can be life-changing, whatever stage of life you are in. Ultimately, the goal is awareness that facilitates reflection, reconciliation and letting go of the ties and behaviors that keep us from living freely. To know one’s own mind, to be able to choose freely without guilt, shame, or anxiety is a wonderful thing. Get help today, may be the answer you have been looking for lies in individual therapy or in psychotherapy.