FAQ

What is your location?

134 South Euclid Avenue
Westfield, NJ 07090

My office is on the second floor of the Westfield Cardiology building.

Is there parking near your office?

Some off-street parking is available behind the office building. Availability depends upon the time of day. There is parking available on the street if the lot is full.

There are things in my life therapy can’t change, so what’s the point?

Solid point. You are right. Therapy cannot decrease the number of children you have, add an extra hour in your day, or make your mother-in-law more tolerable.

What therapy can do is help you learn ways of managing differently the elements of your life that cause you stress and strain. You may have heard the phrase, “It’s not the load we carry, but how we carry it that drags us down.” Well, therapy can help you rearrange the load you carry.

How do I make an appointment?

Making an appointment is simple. If you reach out to me by phone (908) 232-4044 or in an email, we can have a brief conversation and see if we’re a match to set up an appointment. From there, we’ll schedule something and get you moving toward your goals.

How long have you been a therapist?

I have been working with people in my office in Westfield since 2004.

Who do you work with?

I work with adult women and men, and couples who are looking to close the gap between the life they currently live to the life they imagine for themselves.

What if I don’t know what to say?

This makes complete sense. Sometimes you can talk yourself out of trying therapy or coming to a session because you feel like you don’t have anything to talk about. The good news is that this happens to most people in therapy. Remember, you’re not alone in the room, and I can help. Often, people are surprised with the progress they make when they didn’t feel like they had anything to say.

How long is a session?

Because we are getting to know each other, your first session will typically last about an hour. From there, sessions last from 45-50 minutes.

What happens in the first session?

In the first session, we will review the basic paper work of consent forms and privacy policy. For the rest of the time we have, I’ll ask some basic questions to get a well-rounded picture of your background. Nothing to study for; all questions you’ll know the answers. Family information, medical history and concerns, previous experiences in therapy, if you’ve had them.

What if I cry?

If you cry in my office, you will be in the company of many folks who have made some awesome changes. It may not be something that you’re thrilled about, but people cry in therapy all the time. It’s not necessarily a sign of anything other than how they feel about what they are saying.

Do you prescribe medication?

I don’t prescribe medication. Sometimes the people that I work with are being prescribed medication by their primary care provider or a psychiatrist, but I do not have the ability to prescribe medication.

I don’t want to go on medication. Are you going make me go on medication?

Most definitely not. It’s not in my work to “make” anyone do anything. If you are on the fence about medication and you feel like it would help you, I might encourage you talk to a prescribing physician to give it a try.

Do I have to lie down on a couch for therapy?

I suppose if you wanted to, or if you were really tired, you would be welcome to lie on my couch. It’s not uncomfortable. Most people just have a seat on the couch. And some people prefer the chair.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted for payment.

Is your couch comfortable?

When I first started in private practice, I sublet space in a furnished office where the furniture was wicker patio furniture with pitifully thin cushions. Hopefully, you don’t have a living room full of wicker. If that’s the case, maybe you should click back up to the forms of payment I accept before I offend you.

Anyhow, whenever anyone big or small, sat down or stood up, the furniture creaked in agony. I worked with a bunch of resilient folks who were kind enough to keep any complaints to themselves, but it was painful to watch.

I promised myself, when I had the choice, I would have a proper couch. It would have cushions, and, for goodness sake, it would be comfortable. So, yes, I believe my couch is comfortable.