Patrick DiFlorio (He/Him)

I am a licensed master of social work, currently pursuing training for certification in sex therapy under the supervision of Dan Rosen, LCSW-R, CST. I earned my master’s degree from Roberts Wesleyan College and work full time at the Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness. I completed a post-graduate Social Work Fellowship at the University of Rochester Counseling Center. After training under a number of different therapists, I have been able to consolidate my learning into a unique style. Primarily I prefer to use Psychodynamic, Cognitive-behavioral, and Person-Centered therapy within my work. Often I will combine various coping skills to help you get through difficult emotional moments and to get out of your head into the present moment. This is combined with more in depth discussion about your relationship with your emotions and the people in your life, past and present. There is always an emphasis on collaboration and making sure we work on what is important to you and your goals.

I believe that we do the best we can with what we have at the time. Often the coping skills you have or behavioral patterns you enact are remnants of what was necessary to survive throughout your life. I have found that taking my own journey to better understand myself has helped me as a therapist. It's valuable to have someone to sit with you in the pain, or guide you through dark waters, when they have been there themselves. Even if I haven't experienced the same thing, there is empathy to be had for the shared emotions and human experience. I try to be appreciative for as many days and people around me as I can be, while recognizing that some days you can't or won't do much at all. I find ways to look forward to the week and not just the weekends. I love to play games, both board and video, along with enjoying all things nerdy and weird. I'm a part of the queer community myself and love to support others with their journeys, wherever they may be on it.