Phone: (206) 201-1154
Email: info@doctorjeffreygold.com
Office: 1817 Queen Anne Ave N, Suite 416
Seattle, WA 98109
I specialize in psychotherapy and counseling. My approach to psychotherapy is to be direct and compassionate. I work well with couples, individuals and families. One primary area of expertise is couple therapy. When working with clients, I take an active and reflective approach so I can be a good mirror through which the clients can view themselves more clearly. I respectfully discuss all issues and problems and let my patients know my thoughts during our sessions.
I work with many kinds of people and situations; I do not discriminate! I work with clients from adolescence to old age: clients with traditional and alternative lifestyles; many ethnic groups and cultures; and people from a wide variety of countries of origin. My practice is gay friendly.
I enjoy working with the people I see in my practice,and am very skilled and present in helping them clarify the issues which brought them to therapy. I also am dedicated to creating a plan which will help them reach their goals. The therapeutic relationship I have with my clients is an excellent way for me to learn how they relate to others outside the office.
I am eclectic in the approaches I use in my practice; I am trained in the more traditional psychodynamic therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy and family systems therapy. I choose the tools best for the client's needs based upon my assessment of the situation, and in consultation with the client. I take a collaborative approach to therapy so my patients are active in their own healing processes.
With all of my clients I am good at establishing a strong and safe atmosphere. I am very interested in what brings clients to my practice. I spend time really getting to know them as people, not just as diagnoses. I have a warm and direct manner and strive to be as present and near-future-oriented as possible. This allows me to help my patients establish goals for their treatment that I can then help them attain.
I work with couples who are newly together, couples married for decades, those not sure if they can or should stay together, those who are planning to marry, and those who are having difficulty in deciding whether to have children. I frequently work with couples whose communication skills or arguments, combined with different value systems, make it very difficult to find peace or establish a genuine connection. I also work with situations in which addictions or compulsive behaviors have damaged the relationship. I see couples who have major difficulties with their sexual relationships and also work with couples whose relationships have been negatively impacted by affairs or other betrayals. My priority is to help the couple work through as much of the tumult as possible so they can decide whether they are able to heal their relationship or need to move on.
I frequently work with couples as they are separating or divorcing. I am knowledgeable about the impact of divorce on children, and can help the couple to protect and support their kids through this transition.
I work well with couples who are quite religious, and in situations where it is important for the therapist to be both respectful and willing to learn about cultural and value-oriented differences.
I am a trained family therapist and have taught that modality to other practioners. I find it a valuable approach in specific situations. I often work with adult families whose issues began in the past, and are now currently being addressed. I can assist these families in sorting through their problems, whether it is parents and adult children resolving old conflicts, siblings struggling over the care of an infirmed parent, or alienated siblings trying to reconcile. My approach in these situations is to have all relevant family members in the room at once as it helps with the treatment.
Another common use of family therapy is when there has been a divorce and remarriage,especially when children are involved. These situations can be overwhelming. By gathering all of the adults involved in the children's lives,in therapy sessions,communication is improved and techniques are established for solving problems in the family system.
Individual therapy is the cornerstone of self-change and self-awareness. Regardless of the presenting issues, individual therapy is an opportunity for the client to have the assistance of the therapist in focusing on central issues of the self. Whether the issues are focused on the current relationships, on the family of origin, or with learning how to cope with a life-changing event, I will use a variety of interventions to assist the client in reaching his/her goals. Certain of my patients come to therapy with the goal of changing behaviors,anxieties and non productive habits. Others come for a deeper look at their lives as they prepare themselves for the future.
I work with individuals who are having difficulties with depression, anxiety, substance abuse or compulsive behavior, conflicted relationships in their personal worlds, or difficulty functioning on a day-to-day basis. I utilize a variety of skills and approaches to assist the client, but to every client I bring my attention, experience and presence.