Psychoanalytic Therapists in Financial District, New York, NY

Deciding to come to therapy can be a difficult decision; one that takes courage and often comes with some anxiety and ambiguity about what the process will entail. I consider empathy, sympathy, and honesty are the key elements to a nurturing and successful therapeutic relationship. I’ve spent the last 4 years training and working with clients at institutions such as New York Presbyterian, New York University and Cornell Medical College. *** Hablo Espanol*****

WHY THERAPY? Finding a therapist or counselor can be an anxiety-provoking pursuit. In my experience, people seek treatment for a wide variety of reasons, such as depression, anxiety/stress, relationship problems, parenting difficulties, low self-esteem, and so on. Seeking therapy is an act of maturity and strength! It says that you recognize that you are unhappy or dissatisfied with some aspect of your life and that you ultimately want to function and feel better.

My mission is to guide people through loss and trauma toward acceptance and healing. Therapy isn't a space where we "fix ourselves," but rather where we find ourselves in our pain and discover how strong we are in the process. Going to therapy is self-empowerment. It means making a conscious decision to start exploring and accepting all parts of self so that you can feel empowered to live your best life. As a clinician, I meet each client where they are, honor their individuality and unique life experience, and co-create a space where they can feel—and heal—trauma, loss, and grief.

As a Mental Health Counselor with extensive experience in couples/marital therapy, I am skilled at addressing communication difficulties, loss of connection, infidelity & abuse. In individual therapy I specialize in treating relationship concerns, interpersonal struggles, family conflict, trauma, anxiety/depression, & self-esteem issues. My therapeutic style is flexible and intuitive, but I firmly believe that the strongest indicator of successful psychotherapy is the connection between counselor and patient, so my goal is to develop true, meaningful rapport with all of my clients (with a healthy dose of humor mixed in!).

According to C. G. Jung, “Every psychic advance ... arises from the suffering soul" (CW11, para 497). Living can be brutal and isolating, draining us of meaning and a positive sense of worth. Alone, you have been carrying those burdens too long. You’re searching for an informed, non-judgmental, compassionate listener. The search can be frustrating and overwhelming. You need someone who will hold your most private concerns and help identify effective and lasting solutions, to neutralize your suffering … someone who gets down to the root of your pain, not just the surface symptoms.

Do you feel hopelessly stuck, alienated, lost, confused, self - conscious, anxious, or weird? My specialty is working with people who are searching for meaningful connections but instead have all but given up hope that they can attain this goal. My aim is to help you answer the biggest questions of your life: who am I, what do I really want, and how best to achieve my aims and enjoy them. In this connection I will be your guide in a collaborative trip into your inner space enabling you to connect with your personal creative process.

Sometimes life feels challenging, especially if you feel alone or overwhelmed. The impact of a difficult childhood, complex family dynamics, trauma, a stressful/unsatisfying job or relationship, or the transition to parenting can add additional stressors. Whether your usual coping methods aren't working anymore, or you've noticed repeating patterns that aren't getting you where you'd like to be, we can explore these and any other issues you are facing. Together, we'll improve your ability to articulate your feelings, reflect on your reactions and behaviors, and gain insights that will lead you to a more peaceful and satisfying life.

My philosophy is simple in regards to problem solving, effective communication, improving relationships, working towards reaching a personal maximum potential and in healing from trauma. It’s to identify thoughts, feelings, wants, and needs. I believe that as soon as a person is able to communicate these four insight oriented drives, life immediately begins to improve and problems get solved. While this may sound easy, for many people it takes time to gain insight, self-evaluate, uncover and accept why we are the way we are (ie: biology and life experiences), decide on and follow through on changes to make in their life.

I believe that healing starts with a strong therapeutic relationship and focus on establishing an accepting, warm environment filled with trust and free of judgement. This foundational relationship and your courage and willingness allow for deep exploration into your inner world. As a client, you will take an active role in the therapeutic process and together, we'll awaken the autopilot that many of us default to and move towards living life more intentionally and authentically. Through compassionate and curious exploration, we will bring awareness to patterns that may be interfering with your life.

Whether the collapse is "out there" or "in here," it often seems the world is collapsing. Many of us seek therapy because the sense of losing our mind, our self, our loved ones, or our livelihood is terrifying, and the real threats of catastrophe are debilitating. Knowing what we want becomes increasingly difficult, and we struggle to take shape and hold on to ourselves in the presence of others. We fold up or fold in to protect ourselves and our relationships, but then aloneness, desperation, panic, and self attack set in.

I am a licensed clinical social worker, trained in Psychoanalysis, Level 1 Internal Family Systems Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I practice in downtown New York City and provide individual and couples therapy to adults. People often search for a therapist when they feel stuck, anxious, and compelled to change coping strategies that no longer work for them. I strive to create a safe, welcoming environment for my clients that is built on trust and collaboration. I believe that the relationship between client and therapist is essential to change and transformation.

Finding the right therapist can be anxiety-provoking. Who will be comfortable to talk to? But not only comfortable to talk to, who will actually make insightful contributions that you don't get elsewhere? Who can you trust to find the balance between being supportive as well as challenging at the right times? Finding that balance is what I always aim for, and most people find me easy to talk to, interactive, direct, nuanced and to have a welcome sense of humor.

Analysis is the process by which one works towards the individuation, the becoming of one’s own self. It is through this work that one heals. My therapeutic journey addresses the past, the present and the future in order to deal with the psychological questions of depression, anxiety, relationships, love, loss, life transitions, trauma, family dynamics, illness, addictions, creative blocks, identity, orientation and last but not least, meaning.

What is the story of you? Are you succeeding despite struggles with depression, anxiety, anger, or other difficulties? Do you feel stuck, perhaps not making the progress you want to make, or not being sure what progress would look like? Maybe you are moving forward but are concerned that something will get in your way in the future. I listen deeply so that we can appreciate what helps you feel spontaneous and alive each day. I utilize different traditions ranging from Freud's "talking cure" to CBT. I would love to see what we can co-create together. Give me a call.

Do you sometimes wish life could be easier? At some point in life we may feel overwhelmed by work pressure, family conflicts, relationships, financial difficulties, or any other modern life challenges. Even without a serious trigger we can sometimes feel simply exhausted. We obsessively think about the same topic, and we have difficulties falling or staying asleep. After a while we start to feel incompetent, ashamed, doubting ourselves, and totally unmotivated.

Is something getting in the way of your feeling free, feeling joyful, feeling well? Are you suffering from a recent loss? Let's explore what might be inhibiting your sense of well-being and help you grow. It would be a privilege to embark on this journey with you; the opportunity to share in this meaningful and creative work of growth and transformation is not a commitment I take lightly.

I am an Existential psychotherapist, I help you explore anything and everything to get to the bottom of why you’re unhappy, think in a way that takes you' down a rabbit hole.- experience negative emotions or continue unhelpful behaviors. So, If it seems your life is on a downward spiral we'll work to get things climbing in the right direction. If you feel your life needs a tweak and new things to spring up, I will help you to get things blossoming. If you've had trauma, or a complicated life or relationship, I will help you to address complicated emotions by using real talk, real answers, real change, and more happiness.

Therapy helps us engage with painful and often hidden parts of our self. When we begin to explore our symptoms - anxiety, depression, addiction etc. - we find that they are more than just the sources of our suffering. They carry messages about our roots and history and illuminate our deepest desires and longing. In therapy, we learn to listen patiently and kindly to the various parts of our self. Overtime this type of attention can help us feel more alive and connected.

Being with ourselves can sometimes be very difficult, especially in moments of change, loss, sadness, and stress. This is further complicated when new challenges touch upon older wounds and we notice unwanted repetitive patterns. As a therapist I am interested in holding space for you where you can be with yourself and make sense of your particular difficulties.