Reuven Cohen

The reason I chose to be in the helping profession all comes back to my mom. She's always been this incredible force of kindness and community service, deeply ingrained in my memory from as far back as I can remember. She's a doctor, specializing in geriatric and internal medicine, and her dedication to helping others has left an indelible mark on me. Her influence was a major factor that shaped my desire to pursue a profession focused on assisting people. As I grew older and my beliefs and values evolved during my late teens and early twenties, I realized that I wouldn't find true contentment and purpose in life unless I was actively involved in a profession that involved daily interaction with and support for others. It was a blend of my mom's example and my own moral and spiritual development that led me down this path. My approach to therapy is deeply rooted in the understanding that each person is unique and constantly evolving. People are complex, and this complexity requires an ever-adaptive, eclectic approach to therapy. I believe that a therapist's skills must be continuously refined and updated to address the diverse issues and expressions of their clients. Above all, I place great importance on building a strong therapeutic rapport. It's a fundamental prerequisite for any progress in therapy. This involves open communication and, in my view, even more crucially, a willingness to receive both positive and negative feedback from clients. This fosters an environment where clients feel safe sharing their most personal and sometimes uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Given the inherent individuality of each person, conflicts and misunderstandings are not uncommon. As a clinician, I strive to adapt as best as possible to each client's unique personality, communication style, and mannerisms. Feedback from the client is invaluable in this process. My therapeutic approach is very client-centered, and I draw substantial inspiration from the work of Carl Rogers. Additionally, I have a strong foundation in behavioral and cognitive therapy, using a combination of these approaches within the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) model to address a wide range of mental health issues. I pay particular attention to the dynamic relationship between beliefs, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Basic CBT skills and related categories like exposure therapy, exposure-response prevention, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are integral to my practice for managing and improving symptoms. In cases where it's necessary, I incorporate psychodynamic elements to explore root causes and underlying conflicts, especially when these issues impact a client's daily functioning. I often find that unhealthy relationships and interpersonal interactions play a significant role in encouraging, exacerbating, or maintaining mental health symptoms. In such cases, I emphasize Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills and strategies, as well as the development of interpersonal skills like assertive communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. When working with children, parent management training is highly beneficial and often indicated. I also incorporate somatic skills and techniques to regulate physiological symptoms, such as progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, grounding exercises, and sometimes mindfulness. When working with couples, I draw heavily from the Gottman Method techniques to learn how to manage differences in a healthy, constructive way, while building a collaborative and supportive relationship. Motivational interviewing is a crucial tool in my approach, helping clients formulate measurable goals and objectives while ensuring progress toward eventual graduation or discharge from therapy. While I lean heavily towards evidence-based practices as a primary foundation for effective and reliable treatment, I'm open to incorporating intriguing ideas and seemingly effective techniques and skills from Internal Family Systems (IFS), family systems therapy, and attachment-based therapy when appropriate. During our sessions, you can expect a person-centered and collaborative approach. I place a strong emphasis on building rapport and fostering open communication and feedback. Our sessions will revolve around the development, implementation, and consolidation of skills and strategies that empower you to maintain competence and independent functioning. My goal is to help you become self-empowered and work towards the eventual goal of graduating or discharging from therapy. While we work together, I'll also provide psychoeducation to help you better understand your challenges and develop a deeper insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This holistic approach is designed to support your personal growth and overall well-being.