Individual Therapy on Long Island
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no one recipe for living that suits all cases.”
— Carl Jung
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is your classic one-on-one counseling. The beauty of individual therapy lies in two main foundations: first, that you are willing to challenge yourself and learn more about the roots of your symptoms and yourself in the process; and second, that you are having a dialogue with a trained professional. The goal of individual therapy is to find greater self-awareness and give you the tools to live a more meaningful life.
Self-Exploration
The Greek philosopher Aristotle said: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” We believe that any form of therapy is a path to knowing yourself better with the final goal of managing any mental health issues you may experience. Some issues that may be coming up for you include anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and low self-esteem.
You might be asking yourself: Can therapy really help me? The answer is a resounding yes. Having someone to talk to who is unbiased and non-judgmental can be incredibly helpful on its own. On top of that, add the support and knowledge a skilled therapist brings to the table and you have yourself a winning formula.
Skilled Professionals
Our therapists are trained, licensed, and experienced in different areas of counseling. Each clinician works with special populations based on their expertise and passions. We’ve been working for years with people of all kinds of backgrounds, and we’re confident we have someone in house who can help you with any issues you may be encountering.
We look to create a journey for each individual that is as individual as they are. We focus on getting to know you, being with you along the way, and figuring out how best to be of service.
Spotlight: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
One of the methods we use often is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. This is a type of therapy that focuses on achieving one or more goals by “rewiring” the brain through paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and the ways that they are connected. In this practice, a therapist works to change the patterns of thinking that may lurk behind the negative symptoms that may have originally brought you in for services.
Often, CBT reveals the stark difference between what your brain thinks will happen and what will actually happen. You may find that, for instance, you have a crippling fear of public speaking. Your mind will tell you that it is easier to avoid public speaking in order to avoid the stress and anxiety that comes with the phobia. CBT seeks to remind you however, that avoidance often allows the fear to grow and become unmanageable.
To rewire the brain, a therapist will help you identify triggers and problematic thought patterns, and by exploring where they originate, and learning coping skills you will be empowered to challenge those negative thoughts and develop a more positive way of thinking.
FAQs
Why would I want to talk to a therapist?
Therapists are people too! The benefit of talking to a therapist is the training and experience we’ve collected over the years. Some people prefer to talk to friends about their problems, and we don’t discourage that because friends can be a great source of support in difficult times. However, friends are often unable to provide an unbiased and non-judgmental perspective and may not know how to support you in the ways you need it most. Many people thrive on both—friends who love and cherish you and a therapist who can help guide and support you through your mental health journey.
How long do I have to be in therapy?
Therapy is meant to work for you, so that means we accommodate any preferences you may have. The length and frequency of therapy will depend on your goals and the effort you put forth in following through. It’s difficult for us to predict how long therapy will be a part of your life, but the important part to focus on is that you get to decide and the process can be as flexible as you need. You can see us for a few months, stop, and start back up again. That’s part of the benefit of individual therapy—it’s all about you and what works for your life. Of course the more you view therapy as a priority and commit yourself to the process, the quicker you will likely see results.
How confidential is therapy?
Your privacy is a major ethical concern for us. We want you to feel comfortable and therefore we adhere to the guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association (APA) and HIPAA. Still, there are some limitations. If you express the intent to hurt a child, an elderly person, or yourself, we are required to report some information to relevant authorities. However, aside from these stipulations, what you say within the confines of a therapy session are completely confidential and will remain entirely private.
What happens in a counseling session?
Well, part of that is entirely up to you. We want your session to be yours. It’s a space for you to talk about whatever’s on your mind. That being said, each clinician may operate in different ways. If you think you’ll prefer someone who provides a good amount of structure or practices a specific method of therapeutic intervention, we will make sure to pair you up with the right therapist for you.
Once you’re paired with a therapist, your first session will be where you’ll have the opportunity to work out your specific concerns. In return, we will ask questions as well to get to know you and your situation a bit better. Humans are complicated, and the more time we can spend talking to you, the more we’ll be able to get to know you to best help you walk through the concerns that originally brought you in.
Usually, your therapist will have some game plan for the session, but we are also flexible to tackle anything that may come up organically in each session. You can think of the role of the therapist like a conductor on a train. Throughout treatment, you and your therapist are faced with several dark tunnels. You decide which tunnel you would like to explore and your therapist drives the train. At any point, if you decide you want to try a different tunnel, you can turn around together and try again.