Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Kriesberg.
Dr. Kriesberg, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always loved hearing people’s stories, so not surprisingly, I studied English and writing at Northwestern University. It’s not much of a jump from a fascination with the lives of fictional characters to a career where I listen to people’s stories and help them make sense of them.
I received my doctorate in clinical psychology at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University in New York City. While I thrived on the energy of NYC, I decided to move to the Boston area after graduation because it’s so livable here. I love the huge array of cultural offerings and that the mountains and ocean are so close by.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve practiced in many different settings. During my training, I worked in a state psychiatric hospital with people with severe mental illnesses. Later, I worked on a hospital child and adolescent unit, in clinics, and in a group practice. I have a broad perspective on mental health and the behavioral healthcare system, thanks to working with so many different populations and in diverse settings. I opened my own practice in 2000 and have never looked back.
Has it been a smooth road?
Growing a psychotherapy practice is no different from building any other type of business: you have to market yourself, which can be challenging for someone who chose a helping profession over a business career. Also, psychology is a very broad field, so it’s important to specialize. That was a little challenging for me at first, because I’m interested in many different aspects of human beings and their struggles.
And as with most working parents, it’s always a balancing act— figuring out how to meet everyone’s needs and not neglecting your own. I work a lot with children and their families and I strongly believe that raising my own children has made me a better therapist.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I work with people of all ages, from pre-school children to adults. Parents come when their child is in preschool because it can be enormously helpful to get help with day-to-day challenges, such as temper tantrums, toilet training, separation anxiety, and bedtime. During elementary school, parents often bring their children for therapy when their stress and anxiety is getting in the way of their everyday lives—participating in activities, learning, or sleeping. Teens often seek therapy when they are feeling overwhelmed by school stress or problems with friends or romantic relationships, and they don’t have healthy ways to deal with how they’re feeling.
Adult clients often come to me during times of transition: they’re getting married or going through a divorce. They’ve had a baby or are now empty nesters. Perhaps they’ve lost a loved one or been laid off from a job.
I use what we psychologists call an “eclectic” approach, combining different therapeutic strategies, depending on the client and the issues he or she is dealing with. Therapy with me is typically solution-focused. I have found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — in which clients actively work towards building healthier behaviors— has been helpful with many clients. The eclectic part may include helping adult clients understand how their past experiences are still impacting them.
Additionally, I have three sub-specialties that set me apart from many other therapists.
● I work with adults who had a parent (sometimes two) with narcissistic personality traits or narcissistic personality disorder. I help them understand this issue and how to move forward in their lives. Their parents were often emotionally volatile, highly critical, self-centered and neglectful, leaving wounds that won’t heal. Many of these clients feel ashamed and very alone. Working with a therapist can help them finally come to terms with their experience.
● I’m experienced working with children with selective mutism and I enjoy this work immensely. They are children who talk normally at home but will not open their mouths outside of their familiar environment. They’re often misunderstood and labeled “shy” or “stubborn.” But these kids have a very treatable anxiety disorder. My mission is to make sure more children are properly diagnosed and treated.
● I’m trained in clinical hypnosis and I’m constantly attending trainings to advance my skills. No, I do not undulate a watch in front of my clients and make them do embarrassing things. During our sessions, I take my clients into a state of deep relaxation and laser-like focus. Then, they’re able to use their imagination, now unconstrained by their everyday thought patterns, to solve problems that once seemed insurmountable. Clinical hypnosis is particularly helpful with anxiety, phobias, pain, and smoking cessation. It also helpful for athletes who want to deal with a roadblock in their performance. Although the process is somewhat different for children and adults, it is highly effective for both age groups.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The Metro west area is a great place for a practice like mine. When I moved to my current office in Concord three years ago, I began doing (and still do) networking with schools, physicians’ offices and other therapists. I think it’s always important to approach these relationships from a mindset of ‘what can I do to help you?’ not ‘what can you do to help me?’ I am also very involved in several national professional groups that keep my clinical skills sharp.
Contact Info:
- Address: 801 Main Street
Suite 7
Concord, MA 01742 - Website: drstephaniekriesberg.com
- Phone: (781) 507-3421
- Email: stephanie.kriesberg@gmail.com
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