Our counselors provide therapy in Newton, MA

Christopher: My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is empowering self.

Katya: My go-to approach is to create self-awareness and cultivate support in independently making the desired changes. I find that the best benefit of self-awareness is regaining agency over our decisions because it is a consistently replicable skill.

Christopher: I use mindfulness, motivational interviewing, CBT, and DBT skills throughout therapy

Katya: I teach the following tools in individual therapy:

• Catching the “shoulds”: “Should” is casually used in language, but is judgmental language that denies agency over choices and actions. By catching them, we can mindfully evaluate our wants and then deliberately proceed with next steps.
• Regulation: Managing a heightened emotional state is complicated. Learning to regulate our bodies is more manageable. One cannot have a calm body and an overwhelmed mind at the same time.

Christopher: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they consistently utilize their learned tools/skills.

Katya: I know clients are making meaningful progress when they are applying the skills I taught them and do not react to situations in dysregulated ways.

Christopher: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with daily self-reflection.

Katya: Clients need to practice therapeutic skills in everyday day life. One cannot learn to sail in a storm.

Christopher: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can identify daily challenges.

Katya: Relax! We get to interview each other, and my job is to get to know you, not judge you.