Therapist, anxiety, perinatal services in NYC and beyond

Who am I? Brooklyn resident, mom, artist, nature walker, mindfulness enthusiast, daily meditation practicer, psychotherapist. I have been leading people out of anxious stricken lives since I opened the doors of my practice in 2011. I love my work because (and can not emphasize this enough) therapy really does eliminate and reduce anxious thoughts, panic, phobias: people shouldn't have to live in distress when there is another way! I also work with pregnant and postpartum mamas, helping navigate the overwhelming changes in self, partner relationships, fourth trimester, birth trauma, loss (and my favorite niche in this population) anxiety/OCD/panic attacks/insomnia during and after birth! There are ways to think, feel and behave differently!

Living in NYC; I get to see the destructive nature of mental illness. It seems the whole city suffers from severe stress, difficulty being mindful and maladaptive behavioral patterns. So, you don't have to be the person with panic attacks on the subway, consuming work related stress, or inability to feel anything after a traumatic birth. Leave the compulsive and intrusive thoughts and come join me for some exposure work (my clients all know what that means!).                    
Contact me to learn about scheduling in my Brooklyn or Manhattan location or telehealth services. Are you a birth worker? Ask me about specialized services to help you avoid burn out, secondary trauma and any other stressors.

#brooklyntherapist #manhattantherapy #nyctherapist #videotherapy #telehealth #anxiety #stress #trauma #postpartumanxiety #postpartum #fourthtrimester #birth #birthworker #doula #midwife #obgyn #birtheducator #cognitivebehavioraltherapy #dialecticalbehaviortherapy #dbt #cbt #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #mentalwellness #breathwork #mindfulmeditation #ocd #panicattack #exposuretherapy #psychotherapy #psychology #socialwork

Anxiety disorders and postpartum

For woman with already existing anxiety disorders: pregnancy and postpartum hormones can exacerbate anxious feelings! Have you found your anxiety heightened after having a baby? Do you struggle with sleep? Do you experience worrisome, intrusive, never turning off thoughts that feel like they appear out of no where? Therapy can absolutely help decrease anxious feelings during pregnancy and after birth. Also, the stress of a new baby, lack of sleep, feeding struggles that trigger anxiety in an already anxious prone brain. Therapy can help with self care, reframing negative thoughts into positive ones, changing and reducing behavior and adding joy back into your life. Contact me to find out more!

#anxiety #anxietydisorder #postpartum #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #ppd #ppa #baby #pregnancy #stress #fourthtrimester #cognitivebehavioraltherapy #exposuretherapy #therapyformoms #therapyforanxiety #perinatalsupport #telehealth #therapistnyc #panicattacks #ocd #phobia #worry #negativeselftalk #mindfulness #mom #infant #newborn #birth

Panic attacks on NYC subways and anxiety treatment

Anyone who has taken the train during rush hour in NYC, knows this message too well: "delayed because of train traffic ahead of us, please be patient".

Today I was stuck for about fifteen minutes underground, on a crowded subway and a passenger next to me, had a panic attack. Someone quickly got up and offered their seat as she struggled with guilt, embarrassment and panic.

Panic attacks often times come with a trigger which could be enclosed, tight, hot spaces where exit isn't probable (cluster phobia). Panic attacks on the subway is something so common that I would say 98 percent of calls I get are specifically for this issue.

How can cognitive behavioral therapy and specifically exposure therapy help decrease panic attacks on the subway (and in general)? Cognitive behavioral therapy examines the relationship between our thought pattern, behavior and feelings. Often times, those with anxiety disorders engage in avoidant patterns: avoiding subways altogether, avoiding subways during rush hour, avoiding crowded streets, avoiding people, places and things which make anxiety and panic worst. Sound familiar?

When you avoid or escape, you are reinforcing the fear and making it worst. The "I can't do this", "I am going to go crazy", "this is dangerous", "must avoid" is pushing avoiding behavior which results in lots of anxiety and panic and phobias. In a nutshell, treatment teaches individuals to think and perceive and behavior differently.

Treatment also teaches valuable muscle relaxation and mindfulness strategies. Lastly (and very importantly!), treatment exposes to the feared stimulus. I have rode subways with my clients and supported electronically or by phone, subway rides and car rides and trips to malls. Treatment for anxiety is short term because it works quickly.

#cbtworks #cognitivebehavioraltherapy #cbt #anxiety #anxietyhelp #panicattacks #anxietydisorder #panicdisorder #clusterphobia #panicattackssubway #subway #nycmetro #nycpanic #treatmentforanxiety #cognitivetherapy #behavioraltherapy #exposure #exposuretherapy #exposureandresponseprevention #subwayexposure #invivoexposure #invivoexposuretherapy #anxietynyc #newyorkcity #stress #stressdisorder #mindful

Pregnancy and insomnia

Did you know that 78% of woman will experience #insomnia during #pregnancy?
In part, body changes and kicking fetus may make it challenging to get comfortable to #sleep. Other factors contributing to restless nights include frequent urination, heartburn, back pain and overall hormonal changes. There is one more major reason some pregnant ladies can not sleep: #anxiety!
What causes anxiety in pregnancy? Hormonal changes, anticipating arrival of baby, anticipating #birth itself, anticipating any and all life adjustments and being more vulnerable to daily life stressors.
Can treatment help ease and manage #stress and anxiety? Absolutely! Can treatment help mamas to be fall asleep, stay asleep and improve sleep quality? Big yes!

Please contact me to learn about in office, In home and video services for #maternity and #postpartum wellness.
#PPD #postpartumanxiety #postpartumdepression #insomniapregnancy #maternalmentalhealth #perinatal #antenatal #postpartumwellness

https://www.facebook.com/mumzone101/videos/10155106849743772/

Dialectic behavioral therapy #dbt #dbtskills #dialecticbehavioraltherapy

*Dialectic Behavioral Therapy Skills*
There are four main therapy modules which compose the skeleton of the dialectic behavioral theory. These skills are taught in sessions:

The four main therapy modules are:

*Core Mindfulness***
Being present in the moment and not ruminating on the past or worrying about the future. Mindfulness suggests awareness of what is. “Observe, discribe and participate” encourages being an active participants in the present moment. “Non judgmentally, one mindfully” suggest engaging in one activity or thought at a time.

*Emotion Regulation***
Learning how to balance your emotions by separating yourself from the emotional experience.

"Acceptance is the only way out of hell."-Dr. Marsha Linehan

"Radical acceptance rests on letting go of the illusion of control and a willingness to notice and accept things as they are right now, without judging." -Dr. Marsha Linehan.

*Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills***
Learning skills to effectively communicate and relate to others as well as getting your needs met. This skill is frequently used in any assertive communication problem solving lessons: the lessons include saying no/boundary setting, assertively asking for what one needs and conflict resolving.

*Distress Tolerance***
Specific tools to help cope during a distressing moment or personal crisis. An appropriate alternative to self harming behaviors such as substance use, cutting, etc.

Cognitive behavioral therapy #cbt #cognitovebehavioraltherapy

"There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.-Shakespeare

Self talk affects behavior which affects mood. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was first introduced by Aaron Beck in the early 1960’s. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence based, short term, goal oriented, approach. Homework assignments are often given at the end of most sessions in order to practice the skills between sessions. Change is dependent on behavioral modification, cognitive formulation, and psychoeducation )(teaching framework). Disorders are viewed as a result of dysfunctional thinking, which in turn affects mood and behavior. Improvement is conditional upon changing or modifying distorted thinking to achieve more realistic and adaptive thought patterns. (Beck 2011).

The Cognitive behavioral approach attempts to interpret an individual’s processing of information and assumptions i.e. cognition (your thoughts!). In other words, what an individual thinks and perceives influence behavior and emotions. The idiosyncratic rules and assumptions become cognitive distortions or automatic thoughts which appear spontaneously but are mood dependent.

In other words, our thoughts are what drives behavior and influences how we feel. Therefore, examining thought patterns with a skilled CBT therapist, can change behavior and improve mood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a very effective treatment and supported by research.

The Cognitive behavioral approach attempts to interpret an individual’s processing of information and assumptions i.e. cognition (your thoughts!). In other words, what an individual thinks and perceives influence behavior and emotions. The idiosyncratic rules and assumptions become cognitive distortions or automatic thoughts which appear spontaneously but are mood dependent.

In other words, our thoughts are what drives behavior and influences how we feel. Therefore, examining thought patterns with a skilled CBT therapist, can change behavior and improve mood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a very effective treatment and supported by research.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." -Victor Frankl

Where has the time gone?

I do apologize for abandoning this blog for so long! I do want to share that I have a good reason for my disappearance: I had a baby!

I am back and will resume writing.

In the meantime, I want to share my YouTube Channel! Please comment, contact me, leave feedback, subscribe, Find me on YouTube here!