This is a one-on-one treatment that can be long or short-term, depending on your needs.
I am experienced in working with the following concerns:
- relationship issues
- depression
- bipolar disorder
- anxiety
- trauma
- domestic violence
- substance abuse
- divorce or other loss
- job performance issues
- immigration and other life transitions
- difficulty communicating with others
- anger management
- stress management
- social anxiety
relationship issues – relationships can include significant others, family members, friends, and coworkers. There are a number of factors that might contribute to difficulties in interpersonal relationships. These factors include, but are not limited to, ineffective communication, symptomatic response to trauma, and situational stressors that could lead to depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Therapy can help you examine and address these factors in an effective way, providing tools and coping strategies to achieve satisfying and successful relationships.
life transitions – life transitions may include marriage, divorce, relocation, graduation, obtaining a new job, moving out of the family home, and experiencing your children moving out. These changes could be exciting, as well as anxiety-provoking, and sad. Processing them in therapy could help you learn the coping tools needed to successfully adjust to these life transitions.
domestic violence/ anger management – I have worked with both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, and understand the courage it takes to seek help. Abusive behavior may include verbal, physical, sexual, and financial abuse. If you are a victim of domestic violence, therapy can help you process your experience, discuss safety, and explore strategies for achieving more satisfying relationships. If you are having trouble controlling your anger, therapy can help you explore the roots of your anger, learn the tools to address your feelings in a healthy way, and develop effective communication strategies to have more fulfilling relationships.
trauma – traumatic events can be difficult for many people to cope with alone. These experiences may include sexual, physical, or emotional abuse as a child or an adult, natural disaster, military combat, and witnessing a loved one being hurt. Coping with the aftermath of trauma could be very painful. In a safe therapeutic environment we could explore your physical, emotional, and behavioral response to trauma, and build the skills necessary to cope with the symptoms you are experiencing.
anxiety – there are many anxiety-based diagnoses and symptoms that may include worry/panic, headaches, stomach aches, and shortness of breath. Anxiety can stem from unpleasant, fear-producing experiences. Again, the symptom presentation may vary on an individual basis, and hence, treatment is tailored to individual needs. Developing coping skills is one of several treatments commonly used to manage anxiety symptoms.
stress management – with the demands of the modern world, there are numerous sources of stress. Feeling stressed or overwhelmed could effect many facets of your life, from work to home life. Therapy could help you learn and implement stress management tools to help improve your life satisfaction.
job performance issues – job performance could be affected by numerous factors, such as feeling anxious or overwhelmed, experiencing problems in your relationships with family, friends, or coworkers, or having difficulty asking for what you need at work. Therapy can help you explore the roots of your struggle with job performance, and learn to address these difficulties in more effective ways.
immigration – immigrating to another country could be an exciting, yet stressful experience. In therapy, you can discuss the issues of the adjustment to the life in the United Sates, as well as your acculturation process. I have experienced immigration firsthand, and have worked with clients who have immigrated here from Western and Eastern Europe, as well as from Mexico, and Latin America.
difficulty communicating with others – communication difficulties can consist of aggressive, passive, or indirect behaviors. Therapy can help you learn the skills of effective communication, which could help improve your self-esteem, and lead to more fulfilling interpersonal relationships.
substance abuse/ dependence – there could be many different reasons for one’s abuse of substances. Therapy could help in examining the triggers for substance abuse, and learning the tools to control your cravings.
loss (divorce, breakup, and bereavement) – loss of a relationship could be a painful experience, and having a safe therapeutic environment to grieve could help ease the process. Recent loss of a relationship can trigger previous experiences with loss, and can exacerbate your response. However, it is also an opportunity to learn about yourself, process previous loss, and foster growth.
depression – there are different types of depression that range from mild to severe, and from situational to clinical. Individuals from different cultures may experience depression very differently. Some of the most common symptoms of depression in the Western culture include feelings of sadness, poor self-esteem, decreased desire to participate in daily routine, increased or decreased appetite and sleep, isolation, self-defeating thoughts, and thoughts of self-harm. These symptoms may also vary on an individual basis. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please contact the Access and Crisis Line (888-274-7240) or 911 for immediate help. It has been found by researchers that depression is related to negative thinking. There are many techniques and skills that have been shown to be helpful in coping with depression. Among them are the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the mindfulness-based approach. By using these and other approaches, I can help you explore and change the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that might contribute to your depressive symptoms.
bipolar disorder – bipolar disorder involves experiencing at least one manic or hypomanic episode. If untreated, mania could be dangerous. It is important to consult with a psychiatrist about the possible need for medications if you think you are experiencing a manic or a hypomanic episode. You can learn helpful skills in therapy to manage your symptoms.