Dr. Waxman uses a cognitive-behavioral approach (CBT) to help clients recognize that their perceptions of situations influence their emotional responses.
Many of life’s conflicts arise from one’s interpretation of events. For example, if we hear a scraping at the window and assume that it is someone breaking in, it makes sense that we would react with fear. If, on the other hand, we hear the scraping at the window and assume that it is a tree branch blowing in the wind, our reaction would be very different. CBT challenges us to become more aware of our “automatic thoughts” (the assumptions we make unconsciously) and to challenge them. CBT can be applied to work with children, adolescents and adults. It has been shown to be one of the most effective forms of treatment for a range of issues including anxiety and depression. Typically, my work is short-term (less than one year). I do not strive to help clients achieve perfect lives. I help them learn strategies that they can apply throughout their lives to work toward positive change. I do not believe that clients should stay in therapy until all their problems are solved. Rather, I believe that they should stay in therapy until they feel like they have the skills to manage their imperfect lives.