Michael Block, Psychotherapy, P.C.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified in Both Trauma and Grief
Individual Therapy
One on one sessions are a safe and respectful way to address current or long-term emotional pain and move towards healing and growth.
Treating individual adults 18 and over
Trauma Informed
I specialize in treating "complex trauma." While most people aren't familiar with the term, they are often painfully aware of some of the symptoms or related experiences. These may include feelings of chronic shame, unworthiness, anxiety, depression, being stuck in life or substance abuse issues.
Sharing one's truth is making the brave choice to heal
Grief
and Loss
Support, insight and tools for one's unique journey through the grieving process.
Single Parents of Children with Special Needs
As a former school based Occupational Therapist, I have extensive experience with this under-served population.
My Approach
With certifications in both trauma and grief, I offer gentle, collaborative and compassionate therapy, focused on lessening the painful legacy of these experiences. The general goal is to foster a greater sense of ease, self-compassion and hope in the here and now. My wish is to respectfully partner with you in unraveling the often confusing and painful aftermath of complex trauma, adverse childhood experiences and significant loss. Depression, anxiety, a nagging sense of shame, fluctuating self-esteem, relationship difficulties and feeling stuck in life, are related issues, that can also benefit from therapy.
About me
I have had many influences and experiences, that inform the manner in which I practice therapy. Difficult life events, including loss are certainly part of this. My dual careers as a social worker/psychotherapist and occupational therapist have given me a well rounded view of the human condition. Having worked in inpatient psychiatric facilities, out-patient clinics, private practice and school settings, I have had the privilege of working with clients and students with a vast variety of challenges, classifications and diagnoses.
Therapy Schools and Tools
1.
The Therapeutic Relationship
The relationship between the client and therapist is perhaps the most important factor in successful therapy. My goal is to create a safe space in which you can feel comfortable, honored and completely accepted. It is only then, that the important work of therapy can take place.
2.
Mindfulness
While mindfulness is utilized in many spiritual practices, it is also a profound and powerful therapeutic tool. It is simple requires developing the ability to observe one’s thoughts, feelings, actions and bodily states with a bit more distance than usual. It allows for more choice in regard to how we engage and respond to life. Mindfulness can be taught, and is a powerful practice in itself.
3.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on how thoughts, feelings and actions intersect and compound each other’s affects for good and bad. CBT offers real life opportunities, to monitor and adjust one’s reactions to these three central experiences of life. Being mindful and observing thoughts, emotions and actions allows one choice and the ability to interrupt or prevent a potential negative consequence. For example, extreme negative thinking can impact our emotions and behaviors. If we become aware that our thinking has become overly negative, we can create some distance from it, “test” how rational it might be, and lessen its impact on how we behave or feel. Similarly, if we notice we are anxious because we slept poorly, this mindful noticing acts as a buffer that can reduce the negative thinking that often accompanies our anxious states. Finally, being mindful of one’s thinking after engaging in a behavior, judged to be negative in the immediate aftermath, can prevent the thoughts from spiraling into a complete downward negative cycle. One can think of CBT as preventing the negative consequences of the feedback loop between these three ways of experiencing life. CBT can also help create a positive feedback loop between thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
4.
Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory is a fancy term, which refers to the easily learnable process, of getting to know how our nervous systems are experienced in everyday life. There is a component of mindfulness that assists in becoming familiar with the language of the nervous system. Recognizing the different nervous system states as they arise, helps diminish the sense of not knowing why we feel the way we do. This process can help create a sense of normalcy, to what otherwise might be experienced as being overwhelmed by unknown forces beyond one’s control. Polyvagal theory also offers tools to change our states when we are feeling agitated or de-energized
5.
Attachment Work
Attachment Theory supports an understanding of how one’s early relationships with caregivers (usually our parents) shapes our expectations of the world and others. Perhaps most importantly, these initial relationships in our lives, play a central role in forming our views and experience of ourselves. An exploration of the attachment process, can help free us of limiting beliefs about ourselves, others and the world at large.