GREETINGS -- You have reached the website for Joshua Newman, LPCC and Psychotherapy Associates, Here you will find information about my professional background and the services that my office provides. You can also learn about the differences among the various types of mental health providers (counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists). This can take some of the guess work out of choosing a therapist.
I am excited to announce the expansion of my practice with the addition of a new clinician, Osha Posich, counseling intern. She is currently accepting new clients. Click on her page (link above) for further information.
I am excited to announce the expansion of my practice with the addition of a new clinician, Osha Posich, counseling intern. She is currently accepting new clients. Click on her page (link above) for further information.
COUNSELING STYLE:
The foundation of an effective and satisfying counseling experience is a balanced, working relationship between counselor and client. This is achieved through skillful communication, empathy, and respect. My counseling style is both supportive and confrontational. In my experience, people benefit from being validated and being challenged. I always seek to understand where my clients are coming from and what they hope to gain from therapy. As a result, my treatment plans are culturally sensitive, and highly individualized to address the needs of each person I serve.
TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY:
My philosophy of treatment can be best be described as East-West, client-centered, and holistic. I am trained in current, evidenced-based practices of western psychology as well as time-honored, contemplative practices of eastern philosophy. I bring over twenty years of mindfulness meditation practice to my work as a therapist. As I work, I consider the whole person - mind, body, and spirituality - and that point of view guides my treatment decisions. Ultimately, I aim to be in tune with what works best for each individual client, recognizing that there is not a one size fits all approach to life's problems.
THEORETICAL ORIENTATION:
Psychotherapy is a constantly evolving profession, with new modalities emerging constantly. I endeavor to learn and synthesize the most useful components of all relevant treatment methods into a comprehensive system of care that is practical, flexible, and compassionate. As a result, I utilize an eclectic approach to therapy. My early training was a combination of client-centered therapy (based upon the work of Carl Rogers) and transpersonal psychology (the integration of psychotherapy and spirituality). After graduate school, I received several years of elective supervision under master therapist Bill Symes, utilizing a combination of psychodynamic (object relations, James Masterson) and strategic therapies (based on the work of Milton Erickson); that multi-year apprenticeship included an in-depth analysis of trauma dynamics and corresponding treatment strategies. Over the years, I have also pursued training in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Jungian dream analysis, and many other areas. Having studied a wide variety of theories and techniques over the past twenty years, I have arrived at the following conclusion: in order for therapy to be effective, there must be a balance of flexibility and structure, of both art and science.
UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH CREDENTIALS:
Psychiatry and Psychotherapy --
Choosing a mental health professional can be made easier by understanding some important distinctions. Psychotherapy or 'talk therapy' can be performed by a counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. During the time of Sigmund Freud, patients were seen by psychiatrists (medical doctors with special training in mental disorders) for lengthy psychoanalysis. Currently, the majority of psychiatrists focus primarily on assessment of mental disorders, acute care, and medication management; there are some who still provide psychotherapy.
Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists --
During the latter half of the 20th century, psychologists (practitioners with a doctoral degree in psychology) had the lion's share of the therapy market. Today many psychologists continue to provide psychotherapy, however, the percentage of master's level therapists has greatly increased. Individuals with master's degrees (counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists) provide diagnosis and treatment for mental disorders and adjustment difficulties. Master's level clinicians receive years of supervision after completing a 60 hour accredited graduate program. All technical distinctions aside, the choice of therapist ultimately depends upon finding someone with expertise and integrity whose personality and theory of change are compatible with your own.
All photos, with the exception of portraits, were taken by Joshua Newman.
The foundation of an effective and satisfying counseling experience is a balanced, working relationship between counselor and client. This is achieved through skillful communication, empathy, and respect. My counseling style is both supportive and confrontational. In my experience, people benefit from being validated and being challenged. I always seek to understand where my clients are coming from and what they hope to gain from therapy. As a result, my treatment plans are culturally sensitive, and highly individualized to address the needs of each person I serve.
TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY:
My philosophy of treatment can be best be described as East-West, client-centered, and holistic. I am trained in current, evidenced-based practices of western psychology as well as time-honored, contemplative practices of eastern philosophy. I bring over twenty years of mindfulness meditation practice to my work as a therapist. As I work, I consider the whole person - mind, body, and spirituality - and that point of view guides my treatment decisions. Ultimately, I aim to be in tune with what works best for each individual client, recognizing that there is not a one size fits all approach to life's problems.
THEORETICAL ORIENTATION:
Psychotherapy is a constantly evolving profession, with new modalities emerging constantly. I endeavor to learn and synthesize the most useful components of all relevant treatment methods into a comprehensive system of care that is practical, flexible, and compassionate. As a result, I utilize an eclectic approach to therapy. My early training was a combination of client-centered therapy (based upon the work of Carl Rogers) and transpersonal psychology (the integration of psychotherapy and spirituality). After graduate school, I received several years of elective supervision under master therapist Bill Symes, utilizing a combination of psychodynamic (object relations, James Masterson) and strategic therapies (based on the work of Milton Erickson); that multi-year apprenticeship included an in-depth analysis of trauma dynamics and corresponding treatment strategies. Over the years, I have also pursued training in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Jungian dream analysis, and many other areas. Having studied a wide variety of theories and techniques over the past twenty years, I have arrived at the following conclusion: in order for therapy to be effective, there must be a balance of flexibility and structure, of both art and science.
UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH CREDENTIALS:
Psychiatry and Psychotherapy --
Choosing a mental health professional can be made easier by understanding some important distinctions. Psychotherapy or 'talk therapy' can be performed by a counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. During the time of Sigmund Freud, patients were seen by psychiatrists (medical doctors with special training in mental disorders) for lengthy psychoanalysis. Currently, the majority of psychiatrists focus primarily on assessment of mental disorders, acute care, and medication management; there are some who still provide psychotherapy.
Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists --
During the latter half of the 20th century, psychologists (practitioners with a doctoral degree in psychology) had the lion's share of the therapy market. Today many psychologists continue to provide psychotherapy, however, the percentage of master's level therapists has greatly increased. Individuals with master's degrees (counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists) provide diagnosis and treatment for mental disorders and adjustment difficulties. Master's level clinicians receive years of supervision after completing a 60 hour accredited graduate program. All technical distinctions aside, the choice of therapist ultimately depends upon finding someone with expertise and integrity whose personality and theory of change are compatible with your own.
All photos, with the exception of portraits, were taken by Joshua Newman.