FAQs: PTSD Therapy - Depression Therapy in Brooklyn, NY

Can meeting with a Psychologist help me?

I can help you in several different ways. First, I can help you clarify just what is going on in your life that is causing you concern or distress.

It is very important to clearly identify the specific issues which need to be addressed. Through our discussions, we can decide just what is "the problem": Is it in your relationship with someone? Is it a dysfunctional belief? Are you having trouble "getting past your past"? Are you re-enacting a traumatic experience? Is there a bio-chemical component which might be contributing?

If we together determine that you need therapy, I can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

Understand yourself, your goals and values
Develop skills for improving your relationships
Find resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learn better ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Manage anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improvie your communication and listening skills
Change old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
Improve your self-esteem and self-confidence

Why therapy?

Challenges in life are inevitable, and mostly people handle them with the help of family and friends as well as inner resources. But people also have a variety of reasons for coming for professional help. Some may have a chronic condition, say, a chemical imbalance, which makes them vulnerable to stress. Some may be going through major life-role transition (dating for marriage, death of a spouse, or divorce, etc.), and wish to gain perspective about their new role.

If you are experiencing prolonged anxiety, grief or if you are burdened by past trauma, you can benefit from EMDR treatment.

Or, you may need help with other issues associated with a job, with academic activities, or within existing relationships. And yet others suffer from problems with low self-esteem, depression, addictions, and creative blocks. I can help assess your cognitive skills and personal values and direct you to explore career options. Psychological counseling can help provide not only encouragement but also resources and skills to make decisions and make changes.

What is therapy like?

As people are different, their issues and goals for therapy will be different. At first, we will discuss your recent life and what has been happening that brought you here. As we work together, we will consider your history and other relevant factors. In follow-up meetings, you will report any new observations made since our last session. We will discuss if therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more complex issues. This decision can be revised as we go. It is most beneficial to schedule regular sessions in the beginning. While weekly sessions are the norm, when possible, I find it especially helpful to schedule twice weekly for the first several weeks in order to "jump-start" the process. Being "in therapy" is an active process, and I may suggest activites for the time between sessions - such as reading specific articles, keeping notes, or doing exercises, etc. These can be interesting, even fun!

Can meeting with a Psychologist help my child?

If you are concerned about your child, I can help in several ways.
As a Psychologist, I am able to administer psychological tests of intelligence, academic skills, emotional adjustment and behavior. These assessments can be used to obtain resources or special services from the NYC Department of Education or disability benefits from Social Security and other agencies. Further, I am trained to diagnose mental disorders as needed for legal actions. I have worked extensively in the area of child custody determinations, with adopted children, and with parents concerned about ther infants and toddlers. Finally, parents want to understand and help their children and to be more effective advocates for them. Parents need support and also solid parenting information.

Dr. Elka Jacobs-Pinson

Psychologist

Why therapy?