Therapists in Whitesboro, NY

You're in pain every day and suffer in silence. No matter how hard you try to leave trauma in the past, it still haunts your every move. You think you are unacceptable, unhealthy, unworthy and unlovable. You have trouble getting a restful night's sleep, so you feel exhausted all the time. Each day brings a roller coaster of unmanageable emotions like fear, frustration, disgust, and anxiety. Shame looms large over your thinking and decisions. Maybe you turn to food for comfort, or let the scale decide whether you are having a good day or a bad day. You want a life worth living, but you can't picture it or how to get there.

When you think of therapists, typically you think of individuals who are caring, social, and good listeners. While these are all very important, I believe being effective in clinical therapy requires a therapist to be authentic, creative, and reliable. I bring these skills into my clinical practice to empower each client to achieve his/her/their well-being.

I have over 20 years experience providing individual and couples therapy in the New York Metro area and now here in the Central NY area. I treat adolescents, adults and the elderly using cognitive behavioral and insight oriented therapeutic techniques. These approaches allow me to help my clients identify the cause of the issues, gain specific techniques to alleviate stress while maintaining a solution focused approach. I teach my clients to build upon their current strengths, develop new skills, increase awareness and create positive growth to improve their relationships,communication styles, self-worth and to increase their overall coping skills for long term results.

My ideal client is someone I can establish a relationship with that allows us to work together. I try to help my clients to discuss and examine their issues and make choices that can help them. I am experienced in treating the emotional and behavioral disorders of children, adolescents, adults, the elderly, and the developmentally disabled. I have been effective in helping adults in emotional crisis, marital conflicts, and parenting issues. I have personal experience in managing the needs of a disabled child or family member, and in coping with severe illness, grief and bereavement.

Most people contact me overwhelmed by feelings, symptoms or in a life crisis. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) we will explore your thoughts, feelings and behavior and identify those that are not rational, but whose messages control how you feel and behave By learning more rational ways of thinking, you will be in control of the messages you give yourself, not the ones you have been barely conscious of and often come from negative past experiences. Behavior is also explored. Do you repeat the same actions that create problems at work, in relationships? You can change that too, through thinking differently.

People seeking to become who they really are---that is, whole, balanced, resilient, contented---seek me out. I support kind, healthy, authentic relationship with all aspects of oneself because such relationship is key to kind, healthy, authentic relationships with others. It's also key to expressing ourselves most fully, both creatively and pragmatically. Whether working with individuals or couples, these principles apply. I try to make our work together as fun, co-creative, and as low in stress as possible. I intend for clients to leave therapy with personalized skills and skillful means for ongoing lifetime growth and resiliency.

I have been in practice for 20 years. I can address a variety of problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and serious mental illness. I work with individual adults, couples and adolescents. I provide a supportive approach. I give people an opportunity to express their emotions and sort out their problems. I also provide practical coping skills as the situation warrents. I also perform diagnostic testing and evaluations. I take all major insurance.

Your life is in transition, you are trying to hold it together on the outside, while inside you are falling apart. You feel like you have to live up to someone else's expectations or ideals and no matter what you do, it feels like you are failing. You feel added pressures to be everything to everyone: a perfect partner, parent, friend, or employee, and this pressure can feel daunting.

I believe that everyone has the strength within themselves to overcome obstacles in their lives, but sometimes need a safe place and an outside view to help them through this process. Everybody could use support as they handle life, and therefore I believe everybody deserves a space where they can feel comfortable to explore their emotions and express themselves. Through strength-based models and solution focused techniques I work to help people increase their self-awareness of the situations they are dealing with, and find what is in their control to improve themselves.

Life's struggles and challenges can often be overwhelming to such a degree that you may feel stuck and doubtful that a positive change is possible. I help my clients discover their strengths, while empowering them to find solutions to their problems. I will encourage you without pressure, and I will not judge you. My clients find me compassionate and attentive to them. I have a genuine desire to help my clients find positive and healthy coping skills. Each client is assigned an individual treatment plan, with an emphasis on your needs and goals.