Psychoanalytic Therapists in Upper West Side, New York, NY

LIFE IS WONDERFUL and can also THROW CURVEBALLS. As a therapist I am available to see people wanting a calm space to talk about the events and feelings that are unsettling them. I enjoy meeting with my patients and work collaboratively and respectfully with them on a variety of difficulties in living. At some point in anyone’s life there may be overwhelming or traumatic experiences, relationships that are difficult to manage, whether it’s figuring out how to handle romantic uncertainty, fertility issues, raising children, separation or divorce.

Many of us struggle with anxiety or depression or concerns about work or relationships. These concerns often arise from unconscious fantasies which develop so early we don't see how they may be limiting our lives or undermining our relationships. In my experience, one of the most effective treatments for these unconscious limitations is individual "talk" therapy with a caring, insightful practitioner. I specialize in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, forms of therapy which foster close attunement to the nuances of each person's difficulties, and generate an evolving partnership designed to transcend anxieties that keep us from a fulfilling life.

I am an experienced therapist. I value and look to create a collaboration in working with my patients. My practice is both psychoanalytic and psychodynamic. The goal is to facilitate better functioning in interpersonal relationships, relieve anxiety and depression, and to achieve more gratification experiencing the present, as well as in the future. I consider personal history and dreams as relevant as the anecdotal material of life ongoing. We know ourselves better than anyone else. This work is aimed at discovering what we already know and understanding it and being able to make good use of it.

Whether you are having trouble coping with anxiety, depression or work/life transitions, I offer a safe and compassionate environment that is solutions-focused to help achieve your goals. Primarily, I conduct clinical psychotherapy by utilizing a variety of clinical techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I work with a variety of populations including children, adolescents, adults, families and couples.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and I work to help people make changes in how they lead their lives and experience themselves. Trained in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories, I help people address a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders and relationship problems. My approach is collaborative, empathic, and supportive.

I am very fortunate to combine my three loves: people, psychology and dogs. Over the years my dogs have accompanied me to my office and have been of great therapeutic value and pleasure in their interaction with patients of all ages. Therapy is an exciting adventure in which therapist and patient agree to explore the patient's life, dreams, problems, fears, hopes and aspirations. As therapist it is my responsibility to guide: sometimes lead, share and always to jointly explore who the individual is. While everyones' therapy is different, therapy is the opportunity to pull ones' life together and develop the courage to change.

Most mental suffering we endure (if not due to present grief and loss) arises either from our fervent attempts to resolve or answer uncomprehended emotional needs, or because we never learned to endure and adapt our unruly interior lives to the world around us. I help individuals to feel better by attending to all that they are in the moment, as a way of understanding how they have come to be themselves -- and how who they are is at odds with what they want to be and feel. I am trained both in "classical" and contemporary psychoanalysis (IPA member) and in Columbia's pioneering Program in Narrative Medicine, where I now teach.

Are you stressed and overwhelmed? Wanting relief from unpleasant feelings? Looking to create more meaningful relationships? Do you know that something isn't right but are unsure how to fix it? Let's work to figure out the root of what is troubling you. Whether dealing with constant sadness, worry, self-doubt, or problems in relationships, even the one with yourself - with compassion and insight, I have helped many clients move out of feeling "stuck" and find their way to leading happier, more fulfilling lives.

During the global health crisis, I am conducting sessions over the phone. I am a licensed psychologist offering psychotherapy to individuals and couples. I treat adults and adolescents. My approach is primarily psychoanalytic /psychodynamic though I use cognitive and behavioral techniques when appropriate. I have specialized training in the treatment of eating disorders, substance abuse/addictions and LGBTQ+ issues. Additional areas of specialization or interest include anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, chronic medical conditions, disabilities, love and intimacy, parenting and identity confusion.

I am a psychologist who earned my Ph.D. at NYU and completed psychoanalytic training at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. I have been in private practice for over 20 years, and am experienced working with children, adolescents and adults. I have an engaged, collaborative approach to my work and have experience with people from varied backgrounds and with a wide range of clinical issues including depression, anxiety, loss and illness.

With over 30 years of private practice, I have seen major changes in people resolving problems and changing their lives for the better. You may come in with issues such as relationships difficulties, anxiety, depression, narcissism, sexual identity, coping with stress, self-sabotage, lack of confidence, problems with aging, and others, which we can deal with together. In therapy, we have an opportunity to identify repetitive patterns and assumptions that interfere with a satisfying life. I bring an analytically informed approach, while maintaining a focus on your present life and interactions, as well as using the relationship between us as a valuable source of information.

Beginning therapy can feel like a big step and I am here to work collaboratively with you in a safe, supportive, and liberated space. I would like to help you feel less alone with difficult feelings and experience a greater sense of self-agency and fulfillment in your life. I have over 10 years of experience and extensive post-graduate training specializing in depression, anxiety, complex trauma, issues related to identity, and I offer particular attunement to individuals who identify as LGBTQAI+.

I can help. Whether you're a professional, an artist, or a stay-at-home parent - whether your challenge is situational, chronic, or acute - my pragmatic therapeutic approach addresses confidence, productivity, and personal satisfaction. I am a Clinical Professor, Psychiatry, Columbia University. Conveniently located on the Upper West Side, I was trained at: Columbia University Medical Center, Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research (advanced candidate); The Wright Institute, Berkeley (M.A. & Psy.D.); St. Mary's Hospital, San Francisco (Internship); UCSF Medical Center, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute (Externship); and California College of the Arts, College Counseling Center (Post-doctoral Fellowship).

I believe that the relationship between patient and therapist is important. I focus on the here and now experience in therapy, while taking into account your past experiences and relationships, as we consider aspects of your life that are causing you pain. I listen to what is happening in your life and surrounding world and will help you think about your feelings and experiences, as we examine what may be interfering with you living the life you wish to lead.

My practice specializes in a broad range of needs, including stage of life changes, work and, or relationship difficulties, as well as anxiety, trauma, grief, and depression. I have my M.S.W. in Clinical Social Work from New York University, and over 14 years of post-graduate training which includes training in CBT, psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Currently, I'm a senior psychoanalytic candidate at PANY, the Psychoanalytic Association of New York affiliated with NYU School of Medicine, in which I'm also co-instructor for the Fellowship Program.

As a clinical psychologist, I meet my patients exactly where they are. We work together to bring about symptom relief from the issues that have led them to therapy; to change longstanding negative patterns which continue to get in the way. The goal is to create and sustain a happier, meaningful and more fulfilling life. I have worked in many NYC hospitals including Mt. Sinai and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as well as a fellowship at the William Alanson White Institute. Using an eclectic approach, I practice cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal and psychoanalytic techniques to tailor treatment to each individual's needs.