Wow, this latest opinion piece by Jonathan Alpert in the NY Times is controversial. To say this article is provocative would be an understatement. A lot of what Mr. Alpert writes disregards years of theory and research about the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Just last year I posted an entry from Jonathan Shedler entitled, "The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy" which debunks much of what Mr. Alpert is postulating regarding long-term therapy. It concerns me that someone in our field would be closed minded to the various ways in which we help our clients and suggest that his method is the best way forward. I know from experience that clients are unique and that one approach does not fit all. I agree with Mr. Alpert on one point and that is if you are unhappy with your therapist then you should try someone different. With that being said, If you are happy with your current therapist and your results then you should continue working with him or her regardless of the method or approach. Below is a link to the Alpert article. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/in-therapy-forever-enough-already.html?_r=1
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to health problems, including alcohol poisoning,
hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease. This April, during Alcohol Awareness
Month, Orders Counseling encourages you to take this time to educate yourself and
your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse. In Maryland alone, there have
been 162 drunk driving fatalities within the past year. To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse, Orders Counseling is joining other organizations across
the country to honor Alcohol Awareness Month to prevent alcohol abuse in our
community.
If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting.
Keep track of how much you drink, avoid places where overdrinking occurs, and find
new ways to deal with stress. If you are concerned about someone else’s drinking, offer
to help.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with
alcohol:
• Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
• Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
• Does your drinking worry your family?
• Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't?
• Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?
• Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?
Source: How to Cut Down on Your Drinking
(http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm)
Strategies to Cut Back or Quit Drinking
There are many strategies you can try to cut back or quit drinking. To get started:
• Keep track of your drinking and set a drinking limit.
• Try to avoid places where heavy drinking occurs.
• Ask for help from a doctor, family, or friends.
• If you keep alcohol in your home, keep only a limited supply.
For more information, call Orders Counseling at (571) 308-8392 or (202) 596-2350.
Have you ever wondered how your mind works? Have you ever wanted to know how your memory impacts your life? Dr. Kandel, Nobel Prize winning Neuroscientist is featured in an interview in the NY Times discussing these very questions. To read more go to http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/science/a-quest-to-understand-how-memory-works.html?_r=1&ref=health
Every once in awhile I am asked how my style of therapy helps people, so I decided to write this short post to explain my chosen method of helping people. Psychodynamic therapy is a briefer form of psychoanalysis which was first conceived of by Sigmund Freud. It is an insight oriented therapy that is centered around the idea that there are maladaptive cognitive processes in place and that those processes are for the most part unconscious.
The cure lies in making those processes conscious through free association and interpretation. As a psychodynamic therapist my aim is to help you think differently. The first step in my work with people is to support them by treating the discomfort they are feeling and then through a gradual process we uncover the mechanisms that prevent change. Then we develop and build strategies together to create lasting change.
My approach is relational and the work is based on the relationship we create together in the room. We use that relationship to inform how you behave with other people outside of the room to provide insight into those unconscious processes. For my style of therapy to be most effective, it is recommended we meet at a minimum of once per week but optimally 2-3 times per week to establish a meaningful relationship, thus a meaningful therapy.
Ideas to keep in mind about this method of therapy are:
1) It is a long-term therapy
2) There is an emphasis on your development
3) Psychopathologies are a result of early childhood experiences
4) That life issues will reemerge between the client-therapist relationship
5) The concept of free association is used to explore unconscious conflicts
6) The therapist's main tool is interpretation to help the client work through present problems
If you would like more information about how this form of therapy can help you resolve problems please contact Orders Counseling at (571) 308-8392 or (202) 596-2350).
Beginning March 2nd, 2012 Orders Counseling will be moving from Dupont Circle to Woodley Park. The new address is 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 301 South Washington, D.C. 20008. The move will allow for additional appointment times on Friday. If you have any questions about the move and how it may impact your therapy please contact me. In addition to the office move, I will be offering additional appointment times in Rockville, MD during the week.