Eileen Schifrin, Ph.D.

Today life can be chaotic. We have all become overwhelmed, confused, and unsure about how to handle situations in life - responsibilities, schedules, family, work, and personal time are all vying for our attention. The way we view ourselves is often a complex mixture of our own ideas and those others have of us. For instance, we may have unwittingly incorporated the ideas others have of us without even realizing it. This can be seen in our thoughts and behaviors about who we are and where we stand; these underlying assumptions that we hold influence our self-esteem and self-confidence. For example, we might be afraid of applying ourselves in certain situations, because we don't believe we "have what it takes." We might be applying automatic ways of thinking to our life's issues that haven’t worked for us in a very long time. By redefining our thoughts and our behaviors, we grow in our ability to trust ourselves. We can then reduce our need for validation from others and begin to empower ourselves to live the life that we have always wanted. When your coping skills are no longer working for you, when you’re carrying around a heavy burden of pain or stress, therapy can be a conduit to you finding a better solution to the issues that you face. My approach is to help you help yourself through questions, examination, gentle guidance, and mindful exercises and homework.

My position is to guide you in understanding where you are today and how this present is influenced by your past. I use Schema Therapy because it deeply addresses both the present and the past in a way that helps you understand where you were, where you are, and where you are going. Self-knowledge is power. Growing in your understanding of yourself brings you to a level that opens up your world of skills, tools, and ability, taking you out of the cycles of the past.