I am a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City. I am a New York State Licensed and Nationally Certified psychoanalyst. In addition, I practice EMDR and hold certifications in contemporary relational gestalt therapy, in Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy, in hypnosis, and in mindfulness- and meditation-based interventions. I also have training and experience in using dream work as a therapeutic modality in psychotherapy. Special interests include the psychotherapy of gay men, individuals with a diverse range of sexualities and sexual expressions, shame, religious trauma and confusion, and the role of dissociation in psychological functioning. An underlying theme of all of these areas of training and expertise is the underlying feelings of shame, dissociation, confusion, and taboo that each of these areas encompasses. I also enjoy treating individuals who have had difficulty finding relief in prior courses of psychotherapy, as I have strong skills in identifying and conceptualizing psychological problems that can be hard to identify and treat.
I work in a relationally-oriented fashion. This means that I believe that people develop, both historically and in their present lives, in the context of their relationships with others. Expectations of how one might be met by the world, as well as one’s self-concept, developed in the context of a web of relationships. Using the therapeutic relationship, we can explore these relational themes to find new and more fulfilling ways of relating to one’s self and the world. I am highly sensitive to the roles that trauma, dissociation, and shame play in the formation of a relationally secure sense of self. My work helps patients find greater clarity of identity, of their subjective experience, of their sense of “I am.” Furthermore, I work to help patients identify and act in accord with their authentic desires and needs, differentiating who they feel themselves to truly be instead of who they have been taught they should be.
The experience of intense psychological pain can lead to addictive behaviors and compulsions, including out-of-control sexual behavior. I have extensive experience in understanding and treating out-of-control sexual behaviors, as well as experience in working with addictions from a harm-reduction and an abstinence-based approach. I also refer to psychiatrists for consultation regarding the appropriateness of psychopharmacological interventions in the treatment of addictions and of out-of-control sexual behaviors.
The roots of some psychological pain may lie in preverbal or inaccessible domains of the mind. In these contexts, I find hypnosis and dream work to be highly beneficial in helping patients reach the foundation of their pain relatively quickly, allowing treatment to proceed in a direct and focused manner. For those with overwhelming stress and those in need of acute stress reduction, I find mindfulness- and meditation-based interventions very useful.
Underlying all of the above, I find that many patients with psychological pain have not had their subjective experience of “I am” met with an interested, compassionate, and understanding other. As patients find and share parts of themselves that feel authentic and true yet underdeveloped in the context of the therapeutic relationship, many patients find a stronger sense of identity, a greater sense of wholeness in their experience, and a restored vitality for life. In doing so, I also assist patients in exploring the impact that they have on others.
I am a compassionate and intelligent psychotherapist with a passion for helping others along their paths to wholeness and happiness. Even if your pain falls out of the areas I have discussed as areas of special interest to me, I would be honored to discuss your situation with you and determine how I can be of use. If you are suffering from psychological pain, a richer life awaits you, and I hope to be a part of your journey in finding that life.
