| Journey through the Underworld —Image courtesy of ARAS |
Adult Psychotherapy and Jungian Analysis
I have been a psychotherapist for thirty years and during that time I have helped people with depression, loss, excessive anxiety, relationship problems, self-esteem issues, problems with self-confidence, work-related problems, midlife transitions, blocks in creativity, parenting problems, excessive anger, sexual problems, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, obsessions, compulsions, and psychological problems related to physical illness.
My approach as a therapist and analyst involves working together with you to address your concerns and goals. I strive to be as deeply present as possible: listening carefully to help understand the issues that are troubling or that need to be faced for development to proceed. My role involves helping have an authentic, genuine dialogue that values the practical realities of life while also attending to personal history and the unconscious dimensions of the mind. Effective therapy or analysis is always responsive to the unique needs of the individual. Sometimes the way to approach a problem comes through a sufficiently deep exploration of the issue, including the feelings and thoughts connected with it. At other times help comes in the form of thinking together and having a dialogue about the problems that are brought into the office. We may need to consider different or new perspectives on things that are troubling or at an impasse, creating an alternative resolution or choice in how it is approached. In our process, we may discover that the problems themselves contain the seeds for their resolution.
People often have questions about therapy when they are considering whether or not it is right for them. Some wonder what they will talk about. Often individuals discuss what is going on in their lives that is distressing or problematic. They may also focus on wishes, goals, dreams, creative efforts or anything else. People also sometimes wonder how long they need to be in therapy. Therapy can be long term but I do not believe that it needs to be long-term in order for it to be effective. Some individuals seem to find that they come to therapy for a period of time, then stop, then later want to resume. What is much more important than the length of time or the number of sessions per week is the desire to work with issues that are troubling and to become engaged enough with them to create real, lasting change. This requires a sustained effort on the part of both therapist and patient, working as a team, each making necessary and different contributions to the process. The duration and frequency of therapeutic contacts is something that will be determined by each individual as the work proceeds. An essential part of the process of psychotherapy is having an open dialogue about how the therapy is working and whether or not it is addressing one's needs and wishes.
What about medications? I am not a therapist whose experience has taught him that all psychological problems are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and I do not prescribe medications. However, I know that for some people at some times in their lives, medication can be a helpful adjunct to psychotherapy. This can be a highly sensitive matter and would warrant thoughtful discussion. If I think someone might benefit from a trial of medication then I raise this possibility with him or her. If there is an openness to trying it then I make a referral to one of a number of psychiatrist (M.D.) colleagues whose work I know and respect, who can discuss this further with the person and recommend which particular medication in what dosage might be most effective. The decision as to whether or not to use medication ultimately rests always with the patient.
Contact me for an initial consultation regarding individual therapy or Jungian Analysis.