Services
- Individual
About My Clients
My goal is to alleviate people's suffering. I give no preference to any racial, ethnic, gender, or other group. No one is undeserving of care. Over time, I have gained a reputation for treating people with especially difficult problems: obsession-only OCD; severe and chronic depression, chronic and pervasive fear and anxiety, body dysmorphia, and anxiety regarding gender or romantic preference. If you have been in therapy several times with limited success -- I'm your man.
My Background and Approach
I was originally trained in client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Over the past decade, I've become increasingly aware of the limits of these approaches, especially with problems that are difficult to treat. I set out to find solutions. At present, I combine loving-kindness meditation with psychodynamics and cognitive therapy to create a new approach to these types of problems. This isn't a 'whatever works' type of treatment. These different theoretical approaches come together to result in new protocols for treatment. Sorry if that sounds like gobbledygook. The bottom line is that it works really well at helping people reduce their suffering and develop healthy lives. If you have been in therapy half your life, if you've been anxious or depressed for as long as you can remember, if you can't stand the sight of yourself in the mirror, or fear that you have or will do something terrible to a loved one -- have hope. I can help.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I grew up in modern orthodox Jewish environment, and I continue to self-identify as a non-practicing member of the tribe. I'm close to my Israeli family members regardless of whichever political party is in charge. I have been strongly influenced by Buddhist thought, particularly Zen and Theraveda. I practice a form of meditation called 'metta bhavana' , which can be translated as cultivation of loving-kindness. Its practices are not in conflict with Judaism, Christianity, or most of Islam. Also, for many years I was a member of Morningside Quaker meeting. Morningside is a very progressive meeting, allowing membership to people from other faiths. I have great fondness for silent Quaker meetings and the Quaker way of doing business. I have sat on two marriage committees: one gay and one straight. I have provided personal aid to people dying of AIDS and attended the Quaker meeting in Sing Sing prison. My view is that whatever a person has done it does not exclude them from humanity.