Mare, Therapist in Denver, 80222

Irina Banfi-Mare, Psy.D.

Profession(s):
Psychology, Psychotherapy
License Status:
I'm a registered professional.
Licensing Info:
Registered Psychologist Candidate
Primary License:
Psychologist Candidate Permit - 013070

My Approach to Helping

I have trained in a variety of therapies and am primarily informed by humanistic-existential, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic approaches in my work with clients. I think about clients and their presenting problems by considering various possible contributing elements, such as biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. I pay particular attention to the connection between emotional and physical health and how they influence each other. I emphasize the human capacity for growth, change, and self-determination when dealing with adversity. I believe it is important to increase awareness of different kinds of experience (thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, behavior, and relationships), identify how they influence each other, and make sure they are working together in a harmonious and helpful way. Often, this kind of inner harmony between different aspects of our experience is an important part of therapy and leads to a more satisfying and effective life.

I strive to understand your values and worldview and I focus on helping you become more genuine and congruent. While I view each person as an individual, I am aware of our common humanity and the universal struggles we all experience. I see my role as a therapist to help you lessen suffering, but also to increase your happiness. I actively seek to identify, emphasize, and build your signature strengths and values, to encourage active engagement in rewarding activities, and the exploration of a sense of purpose and meaning in life.

I view therapy as a collaborative process. I work with you to identify goals and ask for your feedback on an ongoing basis regarding progress on your goals as well as our therapist-client fit. I am flexible in my style and approach depending on your needs and preferences. My personal therapy style can range from gentle and nondirective to challenging and directive. No matter what therapeutic approach and interpersonal style, my desire is to accurately understand your perspective and to have a transparent, nonjudgmental, and caring attitude.

I consider being part of another person's journey of personal growth to be a great honor and privilege. I believe all people very much want to be heard and understood, but our fear of rejection, disapproval, and misunderstanding can be powerful in preventing true openness and willingness to be seen as we really are. Therapy offers a place to explore the desire to understand and be understood in a safe, supportive atmosphere. I find great joy in witnessing clients' creativity, courage, resilience, and capacity for change. My hope is to help clients make sense of their experience, integrate conflicting aspects of themselves, feel more internally at peace, and relate to others in a more effective way.

More Info About My Practice

Having specific goals for therapy significantly increases the chance of getting where you want to go quickly and without wasting time. I practice outcome-informed treatment, which means I regularly track therapeutic progress and your satisfaction with therapy so that you can get the most out of every session. In addition to verbal feedback, I use two brief questionnaires (four items each) to assess progress in therapy.

I do not contract directly with any insurance companies, but I would gladly provide a statement of services that you can submit to your insurance in order to obtain out-of-network reimbursement. There are a variety of reasons why you may choose not to use insurance, and I would be happy to discuss those with you. Please visit my website for more information and to view a brief introductory video.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

There are two common issues in therapy that I believe I am particularly skilled in working on with clients. The first involves emotional intelligence. By this I mean awareness of emotions, identification of emotions, comfort with emotions, management of emotions, and communication of emotions. Often people have difficulty with some of these aspects and have developed unhealthy or ineffective ways of dealing with their feelings (stuffing/ignoring or exploding/lashing out). I work with clients on increasing emotional intelligence so that they can use their emotions in a way that is understandable, comfortable, and helpful to reach their goals. The other key issue that I often work on with clients is making sense out of their suffering. We all suffer in life and it is important to find meaning in that suffering, otherwise it is pointless and leads to helplessness, hopelessness, and despair. Such feelings keep us feeling stuck, resentful, weak and victimized. Therapy can help process current or past suffering in order to move forward in our lives with a greater sense of understanding, strength, and purpose. Suffering does not have to be senseless or permanent; it can be an opportunity for growth, wisdom, and increased compassion for oneself and others.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

If you are ambivalent about starting therapy, I would encourage you to gather information about therapy from various sources (people you know, online, books, etc.) so that you have some idea of what to expect. Not all therapists are alike, just as not all physicians or dentists are alike. You may have to try out several different therapists before you discover a good fit. A good fit is essential and you should be able to know within just a few sessions if that fit will be helpful to you. There are also different approaches to therapy (both regarding understanding of problems and in techniques used) and some may work for you, while others may not. You can discuss this with your therapist. You can be an active participant in your therapy and the process does not have to be mysterious or confusing. Watching short introductory videos by therapists can also be very useful in determining if you like somebody's style. Remember, it takes courage and strength to seek therapy. Ask yourself, "Do the potential benefits outweigh the costs of making no change?"

Services I Provide

Individual Therapy & Counseling
Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
Group Therapy
Consultation

Ages I Work With

Teens
Adults
Elders

Languages I Speak

English
Romanian

Groups I Work With

The types of problems I often work on with clients include: painful emotions such as anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and anger; past trauma; serious illness; aging, death, and dying; frustrations in important relationships; managing conflicting values and responsibilities; poor self-care; and difficulty coping with stress and life changes. I am bilingual and speak Romanian fluently. I particularly enjoy providing therapy for clients who are adjusting to a new culture and/or balancing different, sometimes opposing values and traditions. I have experience in health psychology and pay particular attention to the reciprocal connection between emotional and physical health. Areas of specialty include health behavior change, reducing emotional eating, stress management and relaxation training. I have extensive experience working with clients that have histories of trauma, difficulty trusting others, and a chronic sense of worthlessness.