What can therapy do for me?

Therapy can help you find the solutions you’re looking for in life.  As a psychodynamic psychotherapist with advanced training in psychoanalysis I can provide you with the opportunity to:

• Grasp a deeper understanding of who you are
• Identify your goals and dreams
• Obtain the right skills for bettering your life’s relationships
• Learn resources to put an end to the issues that brought you to therapy
• Manage problem areas in your personal life, like anger, stress, depression
• Create new patterns of behavior for yourself
• Change your problem-solving perspective
• Build internal resilience
• Boost your self-esteem and confidence

What can I expect from psychodynamic therapy?

The goal of psychodynamic therapy is to alleviate your symptoms through understanding their deeper meaning and transforming unhealthy life patterns into more adjusted ones.  We will work together to identify and explore recurring themes and patterns in your relationships, thoughts, feelings and life experiences that have you feeling stuck.  This therapeutic process has been proven in large scale studies to help people feel better with greater self esteem and efficacy.  We will work towards emotional understanding and healing, as well as growth and development so that the you can achieve a more satisfying life.

It is a participatory experience. The more you involve yourself in the process, the better results you’re bound to see. It’s a practice in everyday living, in which you take what you learn from the session, and apply it to your life. Therefore, it’s important to be mentally prepared to make those changes in your life, and desire new perspectives on things.

Generally, your life, your history, and any relevant insights will be important to the specific discussions, but in a very personal and individualized manner. Sometimes therapy can be focused on a specific need, while in other cases, the treatment is long-term depending on the reasons you are seeking therapy.

How often will I need to come in for therapy to work?

For treatment to be most effective, you need to give yourself the opportunity to come in at least once a week at a set day and time regularly.  In many cases it is most helpful to come in twice weekly.  If you are seeking help for an eating disorder or trauma, I strongly recommend 2x/week treatment.  After the initial consultation and once you become a patient, we will agree on the best course of action to suit your needs.  Sticking to it is part of the treatment plan.

How should one consider psychotherapy with alternative therapies and medication?

People are turning more and more to holistic and natural alternatives to modern medicine to treat mental, physical and spiritual issues. As a psychotherapist and wellness advocate, I fully support alternative options such as essential oils, yoga, body work, diet/exercise and nutrition options, and other means you might explore to improve your well being. I can refer you to professional holistic providers in the area for further consultation.

While medication has been proven to help with many different disorders, it has also been proven that time and time again, it simply isn’t enough. Medication often treats the symptoms of a problem, without getting to the root of solving it, which is where therapy comes in. The decision to take psychotropic medications or not, is a highly personal one, and your personal wishes will be honored. If in the course of treatment, you decided you might benefit from medications, I will refer you out to an appropriate provider.

How does insurance factor into therapy?

Insurance companies are different – some offer mental health coverage, while others do not. The easiest way to find out if mental health care is covered by your provider is to contact them, to make sure you understand their options. If you’re looking for a good place to start in asking them questions, you could consider asking what their coverage amounts are for therapy sessions, what an out-of-network provider might cost, or if prior approval will be needed from your primary care physician. Don’t be afraid to ask enough questions so you feel confident in knowing how your insurance responds to mental health care.

MG