ADD/ADHD
ADD/ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent mental health condition that begins in childhood and endures into adolescence and adulthood. For individuals with ADHD, focusing and paying attention becomes challenging, making it difficult to excel in school, interact socially, and/or exhibit appropriate behavior at home. Some children may also display heightened degrees of hyperactivity or impatience that impedes with everyday functioning. The levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors in individuals with ADHD surpass those of their peers in the same age group.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder: Individuals with significant challenges in regulating emotions, maintaining relationships, and at times, urges to engage in self-harm or suicidal thoughts/gestures may be struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Individuals with BPD may encounter intense moods shifts and have difficulty regulating themselves in distressing environments. There are many biological and social precipitating factors which may include emotional sensitivity, past trauma, emotional neglect, or an invalidating environments in childhood. Symptoms tend to persist chronically until addressed, oftentimes through a course of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which focuses on helping individuals learn how to tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and use interpersonal and mindfulness skills.
Childhood Behavior Challenges
Childhood Behavior Challenges: All children certainly exhibit challenging behaviors throughout their childhood. However, when these behaviors escalate to the point of significant disruptions in daily living (either via persistent temper tantrums, heightened physical aggression, excessive argumentativeness, stealing, and various forms of defiance against authority), children- not by any fault of their own- may be struggling with treatable mental health conditions. Not every child exhibiting these behaviors falls into the following categories, but two examples include Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD). Recognizing and addressing these behaviors early on can be crucial for effective intervention and supporting our children through these challenges. With or without the aforementioned diagnoses, childhood behavior challenges can be addressed with skills and behavioral interventions with the child, parents, or both; to play to each child's strength and help them harness their energies in effective, creative, and expressive ways.
Chronic Worry
Chronic Worry/Generalized Anxiety: Chronic worry, especially over long periods of time, can get overwhelming. Generalized anxiety, intrusive thoughts., and persistent concern (about either thematic or generalized concerns) can cause an inability to engage fully in daily living and becomes increasingly difficult to navigate on one's own. Our therapy approach uses a CBT and/or DBT model to help clients address the roots of chronic worry, by identifying triggers and patterns that fuel these concerns and subsequently changing cognitive and behavioral responses that perpetuate the worry cycle. Although many people who struggle with chronic worry have suffered from these symptoms for years, our therapy process empowers clients to regain control of the mind, and re-engage in life with a sense of resilience, mindfulness, and ease.
Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy: We support couples in all stages of dating, marriage, separation, and divorce, who are seeking to address relational dynamics, attachment wounds, communication conflicts, infidelity, trust, intimacy, and decision making. Our couples therapy approach follows Gottman and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) modalities, and offer a dedicated space for partners to openly communicate and explore their emotions within a safe and supportive environment. Through guidance, deeper insight, effective communication, and conflict resolution skills, our goal is to empower couples to navigate challenges with clarity, vulnerability, empathy, and connection- healing both personal and relational wounds in the process.
Depression
Depression: Depression effects over 30% of the US adult population. Depression can be episodic or persistent, and manifest as a state of sadness, hopelessness, lack of motivation or interest in life, along with difficulty sleeping, eating, and/or engaging fully in everyday living. While most individuals may encounter these emotions briefly at times in their lives, a major depressive episode persists for over two weeks, significantly disrupting daily activities such as family responsibilities, social interactions, work, schooling, or basic self-care. Some individuals may experience milder symptoms but for prolonged durations, indicative of dysthymia, which involves persistent low mood, accompanied by other depressive symptoms. Although less severe than major depression, dysthymia shares common symptoms such as low energy, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances. Major depression is treated using value based behavioral change, insight, cognitive shifts, and by navigating bigger life challenges that are contributing, in order to create and enhance a life experienced as worth living.
Divorce/Separation
Divorce/Separation: Divorce or separation can initiate a tumultuous period of emotional upheaval, both within a couple’s dynamic, and in one's individual life. Our therapy provides a compassionate space to process grief, anger, and uncertainty associated with these life-changing events and the future. We offer joint and personalized support to navigate the complexities of legal and emotional separation, empowering clients process change, and to rebuild a sense of self within a new chapter.
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating: Eating Disorders and/or disordered eating encompass a range of challenges, including significant disruptions in eating behavior, overly-restricting (anorexia nervosa), purging (bulimia nervosa), excessive emotional eating (binge-eating disorder), and disruption to thoughts and emotions around food/eating overall (disordered eating). These conditions may also include emotional challenges such as low self-esteem, distorted perceptions of body weight or shape, strained family dynamics, and challenges with control. Often co-occurring with anxiety, OCPD, mood, and other disorders, eating disorders can also lead to serious medical and physical complications. Our comprehensive treatment approach addresses these conditions through individual sessions, family sessions, group therapy, and consultations with outside prescribing physicians and dietitians.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Marked by persistent, uncontrollable worry about daily concerns, and at times, accompanied by physiological distress like muscle tension, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and migraines, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) presents a significant challenge for many children, adolescents, and adults. Individuals with GAD often get stuck in ruminative patterns about feared outcomes, and may harbor excessive concerns about money, health, family, work, or other aspects of life. While the disorder typically begins gradually, it is diagnosed after worry thoughts occur persistently for six months, without being able to control them. Despite functioning well in various aspects of life, individuals with GAD experience persistent distress, and during severe anxiety episodes, they may find it challenging to engage fully in relationships, work, and everyday living.
Grief
Grief/Complex Grief: Grieving is a deeply personal journey that occurs after any significant loss of life, or a way we thought life may go. Therapy sessions offer a nurturing environment for clients who have recently experienced the death of a close family member or friend, significant relationship termination, or global/communal tragedy. We also treat complex/prolonged grief, and grief related to the loss of not being able to live the life one dreamed of, whether related to family planning, relationships, or other life aspirations. By helping clients navigate the complexities of loss and providing tools and strategies to cope with the intense emotions that accompany grief, our aim is to support clients in experiencing a full range of emotions and foster resilience by gradually integrating loss back into a different version of life ahead.
Hypochondriasis (Illness Anxiety)
Hypochondriasis (Illness Anxiety): Also known as health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder, hypochondriasis is defined by an overwhelming fear of becoming or currently being unwell, or being the cause of others becoming sick or unwell. Those with hypochondriasis often interpret minor bodily sensations or benign symptoms as signs of a serious illness, going to great lengths to avoid situations or activities perceived as posing any risk of sickness. Seeking excessive reassurance, individuals consistently engage in checking behaviors with family members, medical professionals through doctor’s appointments, and online research, yet their anxieties persist even when examinations yield no medical concern. Hypochondriasis is sometimes viewed as a variant of OCD and responds well to treatment through exposure and response prevention therapy.
Insomnia
Insomnia: Insomnia is linked to various factors, including stress, depression, anxiety, and chronic illness, making it a complex and multifaceted condition. Common symptoms involve difficulty falling or staying asleep and a persistent feeling of not being well-rested. Effective treatment for insomnia involves Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I), which focuses on enhancing sleep habits, behavior therapy, and addressing underlying causes such as stress, depression, or anxiety.
Marriage & Family Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapy: With over 50% of marriages in the United States effected by separation or divorce, more and more individuals and couples are suffering with unhealthy relationships, and the stress, anxiety, and depression that co-occurs. Our approach to addressing relationship discord pulls from Gottman Method and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and takes a strength-based stance, combining insight and behaviorism. By equipping couples with awareness of meaning behind their and their partner's behaviors, and providing effective skills to navigate and resolve conflicts, our aim is to support our patients in fostering healthier, more enduring relationships. Goals of marriage therapy include making relationship commitment or termination decisions, rebuilding trust after breaches in relationship dynamics, communicating with vulnerability, addressing attachment wounds, and reigniting love and connection.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (All subtypes)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (All subtypes): Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) effects adults, young adults, and adolescents and is categorized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions), and accompanying behavioral urges (compulsions) used to alleviate distress related to unwanted thoughts. Individuals with OCD often feel powerless in the face of obsessions and compulsions, and dedicate hours to mental or behavioral rituals such as hand-washing, counting, or checking in the hopes of eliminating persistent, unwelcome thoughts, feelings, or images. Subtypes of OCD include: contamination, symmetry, harm OCD, religious OCD (scrupulosity); R-OCD (relationship OCD); H-OCD (related to concerns about homosexuality); P-OCD (related to concerns about pedophilia), and magical thinking.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder (& Agoraphobia): Individuals diagnosed with panic disorder encounter “anxiety attacks” that occur out of the blue, in a seemingly unprovoked and unpredictable manner. Over the lifespan, women are twice as likely as men to experience panic disorder, and it is common for individuals with panic disorder to also develop agoraphobia, characterized by an avoidance of situations or places where previous panic attacks have occurred. This fear leads to avoidance of places like grocery stores, malls, subways, or social events, creating a significant impact on daily life.
Parenting Skills
Parenting Skills: Parenting can be as rewarding as it is challenging. Our behaviorally aimed therapy sessions focus on empowering parents with effective strategies and tools to navigate the complexities of parenting, in the context of family dynamics, communication, school refusal, and other behavioral challenges. Using evidence based approaches, we support parents with communication techniques, boundaries work, managing stress, using validation, and fostering emotional connections within family dynamics. Through guidance and support, we aim to enhance parenting skills and create a nurturing environment that promotes the well-being and growth of both children and parents alike.
Perfectionism
Perfectionism: The goal of perfection, whether at work, in relationships, or in any other pursuit, can be emotionally exhausting and can quickly lead to a state of constant stress, anxiety, self-criticism, and feelings of unworthiness. Therapy addresses the overwhelming burden of perfectionism by exploring its roots and offering strategies to shift from unattainable standards to healthier, and more empowered perspectives. We guide individuals towards facing the fears that lie beneath the surface of imperfection, and help clients embrace progress over perfection, fostering a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Performance Anxiety (Business, Social Media, Arts)
Performance Anxiety (Business, Social Media, Arts): Performance anxiety can hinder both professional success and personal growth. Whether in business, social engagement, or artistic endeavors, therapy acknowledges the overwhelming pressure that accompanies performance expectations and guides clients through facing their greatest fears. The therapy process includes building strategies to manage anxiety, regain confidence, and overcome psychological barriers that impede success, enabling individuals to showcase their skills authentically and without limitation.
Perinatal/Postpartum Anxiety & Depression
Perinatal/Postpartum Anxiety & Depression: The transition to parenthood can trigger overwhelming emotions, both from significant biological factors and from emotional shifts that accompany a brand new phase of life. Our therapy practice specializes in supporting women struggling with perinatal and postpartum anxiety and/or depression, as well as postpartum panic, OCD, and general overwhelm. We provide a safe and understanding space to navigate emotional, practical, and relational challenges, offering tools to promote healing and emotional well-being for both parents and their growing family.
Phobias/Specific Fears
Phobias/Specific Fears: Nearly 9% of the population grapple with specific phobia, which is characterized by intense and enduring fear and avoidance of particular objects or situations (e.g., flying, driving, heights, dogs, spiders, medical/dental procedures). Phobias can emerge in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, often without direct association with a traumatic event. Despite the awareness of the irrationality of their fears, individuals with phobias experience extreme anxiety and distress and their phobias may impact daily living. We utilize exposure therapy to empower our patients to begin facing these fears, which can be done in standard outpatient therapy or in more immersive IOP modalities as well.
Relationships/Dating
Relationships: Relationships are the core of our lives, impacting our happiness and emotional well-being more than almost anything else in our lives. The therapy process helps individuals navigate loneliness (relationship to self), dating, general relationship challenges, family, friendship dynamics, and marriage, across each phase of the relationship timeline. Our therapy focuses on fostering deeper connections, exploring effective communication, conflict resolution, vulnerability, emotional intimacy, and repairing attachment wounds and relationship bonds.
Religious Anxiety
Religious Anxiety: Religious anxiety involves navigating conflicting emotions related to faith, spirituality, and/or religion of any denomination. Therapy sessions offer a supportive environment to explore the complexities related to these important topics with cultural competence, empathy, understanding, and nonjudgement. Our therapists often collaborate with religious leaders/spiritual guides to ensure each client feels comfortable and understood in their religious pursuits, and in the convergence between wellness practices and spiritual goals. We strive to support individuals in finding connection and clarity within their religious beliefs, fostering a balanced and comfortable relationship with their spirituality that is not rooted in fear, shame, guilt, or unease.
Social Anxiety & Shyness
Social Anxiety & Shyness: Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as Social Phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social interactions or social or performance. Individuals with this disorder commonly struggle with the fear of being negatively evaluated, and as a result, avoid important conversations with peers, bosses, or in front of groups which can lead to limitations in personal, professional, and social/romantic growth. In children, social anxiety may manifest as school refusal, clinging behavior, tantrums, or selective mutism. While those with social anxiety often acknowledge the excessive nature of their fears, they find it challenging to overcome it. Typically emerging in childhood or adolescence, social anxiety disorder frequently coexists with depression and/or panic.
Trauma
Trauma: Trauma is an emotional response that may occur as a result of significant, and often life-changing, distressing events that may include threatened death, violence, serious illness, or natural disaster. Trauma leaves lasting imprints on mental, emotional, and sometimes physical well-being, and often disrupts a person's sense of safety and security, leading to a range of responses including hypervigilance, emotional numbing, or intrusive memories. Its effects vary widely among individuals and may persist long after the event, shaping thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. Trauma treatment involves providing a safe, compassionate environment for individuals to process their experiences, and face the emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that occurred as a result. A strong emphasis is placed on validating emotions, using coping/grounding skills, and reclaiming a sense of control and resilience in life's narrative.