General Practice: Symptoms & Treatment

Effective psychotherapy is built upon a foundation of understanding the complex internal structures that drive our behavior and emotional experiences. In my Manhattan practice, I provide a space to explore these patterns—whether they manifest as professional burnout, relational obsessions, or the lingering effects of trauma—to restore a cohesive sense of self.

The Self-Psychological Framework

From a self-psychological perspective, the key isn’t about forcing someone to make different choices—it’s about strengthening the self so that the person can make choices that align with their own needs, rather than acting out unmet needs or repeating old relational patterns.

Understanding Patterns and Symptoms

We address a range of psychological challenges by identifying the unmet needs that often fuel maladaptive patterns:

• Relational Choices: Understanding how individuals may use others as a "selfobject" to regulate self-esteem and emotional stability.
• Self-Cohesion: Developing internal structures that reduce the compulsion to pursue unfulfilling or dramatic relationships.
• Awareness vs. Impulse: Navigating the gap where understanding a relationship is unhealthy doesn't automatically stop the pull toward it.
• Internalizing Change: Recognizing that realistic change in relational patterns often takes months to years of consistent work.

A Reflection on Therapy and Growth

"Therapy gives the self more 'muscle' to resist patterns that used to feel automatic. It doesn’t provide instant immunity to attraction or drama."