Frequently Asked Questions

I am located in Lakewood, New Jersey. I will provide the address once we set up our first appointment.

I am licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey, and I can treat anyone living in those states via Telehealth.

I do offer online therapy (aka “telehealth”).

Please visit my Online Therapy page for complete details.

I work a regular work-week: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

I have evening appointments a few times a week to accommodate clients needing that.

You’re probably considering working with me but would like to meet first and see if we’re comfortable.

That’s why I offer a free 20-minute consultation. If you would like, we can even do a Zoom call.

During the call, you’ll feel whether you’ll be comfortable with me as your therapist. I will also be able to let you know if I can help you. If I can’t, I will help find someone that can.

You can call the office number or set up an appointment from this website.

I ask that you give me 24 hours’ notice if you can’t make it.

Of course, it’s different if there is an emergency (but emergencies are not that common).

Many people are concerned they’ll encounter someone they know when doing in-person therapy.

To avoid that, I usually have a break between sessions so clients don’t run into each other. In the rare case that I go over with a client, I have another exit we can use to ensure you don’t cross paths with anyone.

When looking for a therapist, this is probably the first question that you need to ask. I’m happy that you’re on the right track.

There is no substitute for experience. I have been working in the mental health field for 13 years. I received my master’s degree from Long Island University and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2016.

That’s an excellent follow-up question! You can have all the experience in the world, but if you are not exposed to a vast clientele, the experience will have its limitations.

I started working with children, adults, couples and facilitated groups. I also worked in some inner-city settings, so I was exposed to an array of diagnoses.

As time went on, I learned that I wanted to work most with adult trauma victims.

In today’s specialization environment, society often forgets about “the big picture.”

That said, therapists sometimes forget the person and only treat the trauma. But I always strive to see the person sitting in front of me.

Specialization is important for precision, but there is no substitute for understanding what we have in common.

Many people think they go to therapy, fix the issue they’re dealing with, and live life successfully once it’s all fixed.

This might work for a car, but people don’t work that way.

Growth is a lifelong process. Therapy is there to assist you through the rough patches when you need more support or skills to deal with life’s obstacles.

First and foremost, I develop an original treatment plan for each client. I draw from my experience and well-studied modalities. I make sure to keep up with the most current research on all the latest techniques and approaches.

As I’m sure you can guess, not everyone’s needs are the same. Be that as it may, there are some popular modalities I use time and again.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is very popular, and I use it a lot. I find it very effective for clients with the right skills to cope with their activated state of being. I also use Somatic Experiencing when appropriate.

In addition, I do “parts work.” Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a very good system to help trauma victims orient themselves with that. Mixed in with that will be some mindfulness practices and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

This should come rather quickly. After the first few sessions, you should feel like you are headed in the right direction.

If not, there needs to be a discussion as to what the trouble may be. Remember: This takes time, even though we want to be better before walking through the door.

As I mentioned, we are all unique with different needs. However, there are a few guidelines that I would like to put out there to help put this in perspective. There are basically four “categories”:

On rare occasions, a client may come in with an issue that feels complex, but within three months, things start to clear up for them, and they can be on their way.

In my experience, many people are helped with therapy lasting about three to six months. Their issues are straightforward, usually involving single-incident traumas.

I would say that most of my clients are in the “six-months-to-a-year” category. During this time, they learn coping skills and resources to cope with their symptoms. After that, they sort out their feelings and identify the trouble spots they feel need more attention. They process and then learn new ways to perceive old events.

The clients that stay longer than a year are the more complex cases with multiple traumatic events.

This is a good question that doesn’t always have a clear answer. “When you reach your goals” would be one answer.

Early in my career, a client asked me this question after working together for several months. I replied that it would end when she had the courage to get up from her chair and confidently say, “ I got this! I can go out and do it on my own.”

While this may not work for everyone, there is some element of truth to that approach.

You’ll feel differently depending on where you are in the therapeutic process. Emotions are unpredictable, and they fluctuate. A lot of it depends on where you are coming from.

The therapy room may not feel safe at first, but you should start feeling that you can let down your guard. Over time, you’ll begin to feel safe displaying your authentic self.