Leslie Karen Deutsch

“If your life isn't going well, you may be wondering if just talking can really help. Maybe talking to a stranger about yourself makes you uncomfortable or seems weird. In my experience, these feelings fade away soon after beginning therapy. Before long, most people begin to feel safe with me. They feel accepted and understood. Even those who had doubts about therapy notice that they're calmer, more content, and even more creative. Lonely people start relationships. Couples in conflict find peaceful resolutions. People who were reluctant to start families have babies. In time, therapy helps people come alive.

For me, working as a therapist is much like being a parent. Although we begin as strangers, if all goes well, in the process of being together, day after day or session after session, healthy development naturally unfolds. It's a privilege to be part of that very personal process.

Sometimes problems, like disability or chronic pain persist despite the best therapy. Other modalities,like herbal medicine, meditation and yoga, can be as helpful as antidepressants in easing suffering. I encourage the use of alternative treatments to support our work. My patients feel especially comforted by Garfield, my therapy dog.”