Therapists in West Newton, MA

Depression and anxiety often have their root causes in negative assumptions that we have about ourselves. Clients seek therapy to free themselves of the burden of the past. Insight can be a good first step, but the collaborative work of therapy is then to develop the ability to counter self-defeating thoughts and take steps to improve their situation.

*PRACTICE CURRENTLY FULL* I am an experienced, licensed psychologist in private practice, and on faculty at Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis. I work with adults and older adolescents struggling with depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. I never underestimate the complexities of the mind, personality, and the unconscious dynamics inherent in relationships. At the same time, I feel psychotherapy should be practical. I have a thoughtful, compassionate style in addressing the roots of repetitive distress, while keeping in mind that such work must also ameliorate more immediate distress.

All human beings have within themselves the capacity for living happy, meaningful lives. We are meant to thrive, however it is quite common for distressing life experiences to interfere with our natural way of being. Sometimes obstacles are known to us, but have been resistant to change. Others remain hidden, but what we do notice clearly are psychological and emotional symptoms of distress (depression, fear and anxiety, emotional reactivity, irritability, addictions, etc.). These symptoms can significantly impact our quality of life, and almost always cause problems in relationships.

The human mind is amazing. At every moment, we are experiencing a complicated mix of emotions, thoughts, sensations, and memories. We notice some of these, but most we do not. Emotions, in particular, are often perceived only vaguely, or they can seem mysterious, foreign, or out of our control. Contemporary neuropsychologists have found that the decisions that we make are much more influenced by emotions, some of which are out of our awareness, than they are by our rational thoughts.

When you improve your relationship with yourself and your relationships with others, you are “on the path” to a happier, healthier life. I’d like to help you along that path. Together, we can explore a range of approaches: whatever works. But – so you know where I’m coming from – in the end, it’s always about relationships. I’d like to meet you.

At this point, I am seeking clients who want to work via online sessions. My practice includes providing psychotherapy for adolescents and adults. I provide individual, group, couples and conjoint therapy. I work primarily within the Internal Family Sytems (IFS) model. This includes working with your unique gifts and potentials, your deepest fears, conflicts and concerns, your past history, your present situations, your relationships, your future goals and dreams, and, if relevant to you, your spiritual self.

I have been practicing psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and groups for more than 35 years. My style is interactive and my goal is to provide safety and support in creating a collaborative, therapeutic relationship. I use a variety of theoretical approaches with a particuar focus on Gestalt theory to help clients identify the issues that need to be managed or resolved in order to achieve the quality of life they are seeking.

Psychotherapy, as I define it to my patients and students, is the collaborative inquiry between patient and therapist into the patient's patterns of interaction and patterns of expectation. This kind of study leads to greater personal and interpersonal freedom, which allows for the reduction or the elimination of symptoms. Psychotherapy can be of brief duration or an extended enterprise focusing on long term difficulties. The decision on which form of psychotherapy to undertake is usually based on an evaluation of 1 to 3 sessions, where a treatment plan is developed. I am interactive in my approach.

CBT really works! Especially when you are working with a trained and experienced therapist. I hold advanced certification in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and use this approach exclusively. Together we will work to improve your insight, mood and motivation. You will learn what influences your mood and decision-making, and how ways of thinking and doing can lead to feeling stuck and hopeless. In addition to CBT, I can teach you powerful skills to improve distress tolerance and emotional regulation. These are skills you will learn to use now, and can rely on in the future.

As a Clinical Social Worker spanning 25 plus year, I have worked within a number of settings and populations, specifically with children, adolescents and families. I now primarily focus on adolescents and young adults who are struggling with a variety of issues. This transitional point in their lives can be fraught with stress, anxiety, decisions and emotional upheaval. I believe that everyone is doing the best they can and strive to live their best possible life. My role is to help achieve their goals and get back on track and learn to manage the obstacles that may interfere with their goals.

Time and again, the same struggles can show up in relationships or at work. I know how hard it is to break the cycle. Other times, events and life changes challenge our ability to cope and accomplish what we need. Healing and self-discovery are possible in a safe and supportive therapy relationship. My goal is to help you create a rich and meaningful life and better navigate life's challenges. I work with folks facing a range of issues, with a specialty in trauma, burnout, relationship issues and eco-anxiety/climate grief. If you experience stress from caring for/about others and our environment, I am ready to support you.

When you improve your relationship with yourself and your relationships with others, you are “on the path” to a happier, healthier life. I’d like to help you along that path. Together, we can explore a range of approaches: whatever works. But – so you know where I’m coming from – in the end, it’s always about relationships. I’d like to meet you.

I am a psychologist & psychoanalyst with more than 40 years of outpatient and hospital based experience. I provide individual and couples therapy for clients struggling with the full range of interpersonal and emotional issues that bring people into treatment. Active compassionate listening designed to get to the root causes of my clients' pain and suffering is at the heart of my work. I trained and worked at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts for many years and completed psychoanalytic training at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute where I am now on the faculty. Wit and warmth also come in handy.

At each stage of life we encounter new chances to overcome obstacles and live with peace of mind. We can meet these challenges with the right understanding, insight and support. Perhaps you are a young adult working to make the best choices in your career, in mid-life, navigating the stresses and strains of caring for your family, or in advanced years, searching for direction or meaning. My counseling services offer reasonably priced mental health care for the many obstacles you can encounter on your way to getting all you can from life.

Rights of Passage is a private practice in a beautiful, easily accessible and quiet location with free parking. My practice supports work with individuals across all backgrounds, couples, and family units. I have over 30 years of clinical experience and have developed a particular expertise at helping my clients move upwards through life crises and transitions. These have included: adolescent transitions or parenting of troubled teens, separation in a relationship, divorce, habituated marital conflict, loss of a loved one, medical trauma or job/career related stressors. Call or e-mail to set up an initial phone consultation.

I am fully certified in two evidence based therapies1) EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and 2) IFS or Internal Family Systems Therapy. In a very SAFE manner, they can be VERY effective. I emphasize the word SAFE because NOTHING is ever discussed unless YOU are comfortable discussing it. You're "the boss" as to what we cover/discuss in therapy.

As a clinician, I seek to develop a strong rapport with my clients to promote a collaborative treatment process. I help my clients learn more about themselves and better identify their emotional and therapeutic needs. I believe the opportunity for my clients to develop a sense of agency, and identify how to take action when faced with difficult situations, is key to self-empowerment and growth. I work with my clients to gather information about themselves and their situations, to learn to reflect on their emotions and behaviors in a nonjudgmental way, and to build their confidence to make positive decisions in their life.

We're the therapists for "kids who don't like therapy." These days - especially - teens are too often suffering and struggling in their homes and in our schools. And everyone could use some help: kids, parents, and the caring professionals in our schools. Throughout the state, our therapists and life coaches serve as "part of the team," helping teens to feel better, and do better. Together, we'll explore and better understand what's been happening, how to change patterns, and how to get better results!

Welcome! I'm a board-certified psychiatrist offering psychotherapy and thoughtful medication management. I'm on faculty at Harvard Medical School and work as a staff psychiatrist at McLean hospital, in addition to my time in my confidential private practice. I'm specialized in trauma recovery, addiction counseling, and BPD treatment. I also help with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. I work with clients new to therapy as well as clients who have tried numerous therapies and/or medications and haven't gotten the results they wanted. I listen and work collaboratively with you.