Ariel Lachman(He/Him/His)

On your first visit you can expect to spend a few minutes filling out some basic paperwork, including your contact information and informed consent documents. Afterwards you will be given the opportunity to talk about what is bringing you in to psychotherapy; for example, what problems you are currently facing, what symptoms you have been experiencing (e.g., depressed mood, anxiety, or insomnia), and to talk a little about your background, family, and personal history. You may be asked to elaborate on certain topics in order to understand your situation better.

The first month or more (4+ sessions) of therapy is aimed at getting a fuller picture of your life: the assessment period. Yes, this may seem like a long time. But, in today's culture we are conditioned to seek-out "quick fixes" and "magic bullets" while psychotherapy offers the opportunity to slow down, examine ourselves, reflect, and be mindful of what conditions may be influencing our current challenges. Sometimes these challenges manifest into psychiatric symptoms and they may even warrant clinical diagnoses. However before treatment can truly begin and a real lasting cure reached a foundation of trust, understanding, and empathy must be built between therapist and patient. Each individual patient, regardless of background and clinical presentation is unique, and I believe must be treated specifically to who they are and the context in which they experience themselves.