Paula Fistein

I've always found that healing starts from talking, expressing emotions, and having someone that provides empathic and reflective listening. I was that person growing up listening to my friends and helping them get through tough times and also encouraging them through the good times. I decided that I wanted to help more people as a profession as it brings me joy to help others.

I help clients learn to manage their depression in a healthy manner by incorporating cognitive restructuring for negative thinking, positive reinforcement, and behavioral techniques. Depression can lead to a lack of or increased need for sleep, issues with nutrition, isolation, lack of motivation, and in some cases lack of hygiene. In severe cases self harm and suicide ideation can also be a part of the individuals depressive symptoms. The importance of psychoeducation for the client and their loved one’s is important to better assist the client in their recovery. Helping the client understand their mood and triggers of depression can greatly benefit the therapeutic process. The goal for treatment is for the client to gain the necessary tools and coping skills to reduce their symptoms and live a healthy lifestyle.

Therapy entails many facets of life, from daily stress to more serious problems, all which can be addressed in a safe space with empathy, connection, self­-healing, unconditional positive regard, and compassion. I tailor therapy to meet each client’s own needs as no two clients are the same. I work by empowering my clients with a nonjudgmental approach that helps them thrive on their own. I utilize evidence based therapeutic models to provide exceptional individualized care, treatment plans, interventions, and psychoeducation.

Addiction counseling can help an individual regain normalcy in their life, including building healthy relationships, building trust, and becoming a productive member of society. My purpose is to help the person struggling with addiction learn robust coping tools so they can be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle free of mind-altering substances and negative behaviors on their own.

Individuals struggling with anger issues can benefit from therapy because it helps them open up and address underlying issues which in turn are expressed with anger and aggression. Clients will learn to process the layers that lead up to anger and will gain access to healthy methods of expressing their feelings and emotions. The goal is not for the client to never be angry again, but to be able to understand the anger and feel comfortable with the emotion and choose a healthy way in which to address it. Therapy can assist a client to manage their anger in a way that they can lead a stress free lifestyle.