​Jody Friedman, LCSW

​Psychoanalysis:

A central theme in psychoanalysis is listening to the client, giving them the space to tell their story in their own way: their struggles, strengths, what they've already tried and how they want their life to change. Psychoanalysis is also about linking past childhood experiences to present emotional issues.  Helping the client understand the necessary changes they had to make in their family in order to feel safe in a home that may have felt unsympathetic, distant, hostile or distracted. An example would be a parent who diminished their child’s strengths and gifts because of envy or competitiveness.  Learning a parent’s unconscious dynamic can help a client see past painful criticisms in a new light, no longer a reflection of their worth but coming from an immature, fearful and flawed parent. Working with childhood issues also helps bring unconscious feelings to the surface.  I create an extremely safe space where the client can feel comfortable and protected in order to explore their hidden or prohibited feelings.

 

I use compassionate interpretation, sensitive questioning and unwavering support to help my clients discover their psychological binds, protections, strengths and gifts.  I respect their inner rhythm and sensitivity to highlight only what they can process at the moment, giving them the space and time needed for integration. It is my responsibility to understand and find ways to help my clients with this process. 

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​Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt therapy is about wholeness. It helps unite the different parts of oneself that are repressed or split off and brings them into the “here and now.”  An example is the “empty chair technique” which coaxes hidden feelings to the surface, showing how these feelings may be interfering with present functioning.  The client imagines another person or aspect of themselves in an empty chair and talks to them.  In this experience the client can become aware of important feelings that have been denied or blamed on someone else.  These emotions are unconsciously controlling the client’s behavior and feelings.  Once these feelings are recognized and understood it mitigates feeling victimized  and gives back greater control, empowerment, energy and awareness.  

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Example:  A client fells deeply rejected because men stop calling her after a few dates.  Using the “empty chair technique” she tells one man how afraid she is of being abandoned.  She said, “if you get to know me you’ll reject me.”  Gradually she goes deeper and says. “Getting close will just show how angry I am and then you won’t love me, so leave me alone then I’ll never be hurt.”  She then realizes she was the one doing the rejecting (the men had been reacting to this). This awareness sparked a period of intense work and growth, allowing her to release old patterns that had maintained her aloneness. After her work she was able to have a very satisfying long-term relationship that still continues. 

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Mind/Body/Spirit Integration

​Anxiety and depression cause tension in the body cutting off important feeling and inner strength.   Mind/Body Integration helps you relax, strengthen and ground your body connecting you to your energy and life force.   It also deepens the experience of the “Self” which supports you while you make the changes that evolve from your growth.  The M/B Integration is a combination of breathing exercises, narrative and creative imaging, dialoguing with the body and the healing of music, dance, art and nature. 

 

Jungian Therapy

The main focus of Jungian Therapy is to achieve wholeness, discovery of the real “Self” as opposed to being what other’s expect.  This is often called working with the “Shadow,” disowned parts that are outside of awareness or one is aware but ashamed. The family of origin and our culture can make many feelings and actions feel unacceptable that may be essential to living a full life, like focusing on your own needs, different ways of learning or self expression, sexuality, anger, empowerment, being an introvert etc.   These conflicting parts of a person can be integrated with the use of dreams, myths, folklore and compassionate therapy illuminating your personal experiences as a part of a broader, universal timeless narrative and persona epic human journey.