Michelle Schaffner, LCSW-R
Michelle Schaffner, LCSW-R
Integrative Therapy for Adults and Children
Integrative Therapy for Adults and Children
Common Questions:
How can therapy help me?
Therapists help people manage stresses and to prepare for and incorporate changes within their lives. I can provide a fresh perspective for difficult problems and help point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits you can expect from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Seeking help and reaching out to an unknown person can be a scary and frightening process. You may wonder if you will feel comfortable or accepted. I hope to help you with the concerns you face by creating a supportive, warm, and nonjudgmental environment in which you feel safe to grow and explore. Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and there's nothing wrong with seeking extra support when you need it. Working with a therapist can provide the outside perspective needed to make the progress you are seeking.
In fact, therapy is best for people with enough self-awareness to realize that help is needed, and that insight is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you are in life and making a commitment to change your situation by seeking therapy. In therapy I will help you develop the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-shape destructive patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for seeking therapy. You may be going through a major life transition, such as unemployment, divorce, or a new job. You may struggle with internal hurdles like low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, spiritual conflicts, and creative blocks. You may also find interpersonal concerns challenging, such as communicating clearly or setting appropriate boundaries.
A supportive therapeutic relationship can help you to surpass these difficulties by learning more about yourself, and finding ways to accept and adapt to what is not changeable and to integrate and grow in ways that are available to you.
What is therapy like, and how is art involved?
Because each person has unique issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, personal history relevant to your issues, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from previous sessions. In addition, we can incorporate different art activities into your sessions, if desired, which can be an excellent way to deal with feelings that don't yet have words attached clearly. Art can also just feel comforting even when there is no particular skill involved, and it can aid in expression or feelings of release for many people.
Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Your active participation in regularly scheduled sessions will help maintain our focus on the changes you seek and help to integrate and apply what you learn within sessions into your life outside of therapy.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that stifle our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. In addition to me, and working with your medical doctor or a psychiatrist, you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy can be the right course of action.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. You can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent.” Sometimes, however, you may want me to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (such as your Physician), but by law I cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
Location:
350 Central Park West
Suite 1F (by 95th Street)
New York, NY 10025
(347) 391-4587