What is the Approach-Avoidance Conflict in Psychotherapy and How Can IFS Therapy Help?

In my prior article, Why Are So Many of Us Fearful of Change While Others Embrace It?, I mentioned the approach-avoidance conflict as it relates to making changes.

The Approach-Avoidance Conflict

In the current article, I'm focusing on the approach-avoidance conflict as it relates to many clients in therapy.

What is the Approach-Avoidance Conflict in Therapy?

As I mentioned in the prior article, although many people want to make positive changes in their life, they often experience ambivalence about the change--even when it's something they really want.

As a New York psychotherapist in private practice, I see this all the time.

Since it's a common experience, if you learn to expect it, you can learn to accept and deal with that part of yourself that might want to avoid positive change.

So, let's explore this dynamic further.

In psychotherapy, the approach-avoidance conflict is a psychological state of tension that occurs when a client is simultaneously drawn towards and repelled by the exact same goal, action or dynamic.

The approach-avoidance conflict was originally introduced by Kurt Lewin, a psychologist, who described this dynamic as a "tug of war". 

This dynamic is key to understanding why at a certain stage of therapy many clients experience anxiety and stagnation about the changes they want to make.  

What is the Typical Pattern For the Approach-Avoidance Conflict in Therapy?

This conflict often operates on a predictable pattern based on how close clients are to their goal:

• The Approach to a Goal: When clients are far away from a goal, they can see the positive benefits of their goal ("the approach"). This motivates them to move forward.

• The Avoidance of a Goal: As clients move emotionally or physically closer to the goal, many of them begin to perceive negative consequences or fears ("the avoidance") which grows sharply the closer they get to their goal.

• The Point of Stagnation: Eventually, the force of the avoidance equals the force of the approach. At that point, these clients can get stuck as they experience anxiety, indecision or behavioral paralysis.

What Are the Clinical Scenarios Where the Approach-Avoidance Conflict Shows Up in Therapy?

Here are some typical examples:

Intimacy and Relationships:

• The Approach (Pull or Desire): Craving deep emotional connection and a loving relationship.

The Approach-Avoidance Conflict in Therapy

• The Avoidance (Fear): Fear of vulnerability, rejection or losing independence.

• Resulting Behavior: Sabotaging relationships just as they become serious.

Trauma Processing:

• The Approach (Pull or Desire): Wanting to heal, gain closure and reduce traumatic symptoms.

The Approach-Avoidance Conflict in Trauma Therapy

• The Avoidance (Fear): Fear of exploring traumatic memories and emotions.

• Resulting Behavior: Missing sessions or leaving therapy prematurely as the trauma work begins.

Career Change:

• The Approach (Pull or Desire): Desiring a fulfilling, high-paying and prestigious position.

• The Avoidance (Fear): Fear of failure, longer work hours or more responsibilities.

• Resulting Behavior: Procrastination in submitting a job application or applying for a promotion.

Behavioral Change

• The Approach (Pull or Desire): Wanting a healthier body and stable life.

The Approach-Avoidance Conflict and Behavioral Change

• The Avoidance (Fear): Fear of facing reality the necessary changes involved.

• Resulting Behavior: Reverting back to unhealthy behavior, missing sessions or dropping out of therapy prematurely.

How Does IFS Therapy Deal With the Approach-Avoidance Conflict?

IFS (Internal Family Systems) Therapy is uniquely suited for this dynamic (see my article: IFS Therapy is a Gentle Evidence-Based Therapy).

IFS Therapy and the Approach-Avoidance Conflict

The IFS therapist deals with the approach-avoidance conflict by recognizing that clients who experience this dynamic have a clash between two or more parts of themselves.

Instead of trying to push through the conflict, the IFS therapist helps clients to overcome this dilemma by identifying clients' internal parts and identifying the positive intentions of each of the conflicting parts. She also helps clients to negotiate between these conflicting parts.

What is the IFS Therapy Framework For the Approach-Avoidance Conflict?

In IFS, the "approach" and "avoidance" aspects of clients are seen as separate parts of the client who have good intentions. There is a recognition that these conflicting parts have served the client in the past by protecting old emotional wounds:

• The Approach Part: This is usually an internal proactive protective part. This part wants to move forward, achieve goals or seek connection because doing so will bring safety, fulfillment or a sense of increased self worth.

IFS Therapy and the Approach-Avoidance Conflict

• The Avoidance Part: This is usually a reactive protective part. It stops progress because it senses danger. It fears that moving forward will trigger an old emotional wound, shame or trauma from the past.

What is the IFS Therapy Step-By-Step Process For Resolving Internal Conflict?

The IFS therapist will guide the client through the following process to overcome the client's behavioral conflict:

Differentiating the Internal Parts: Instead of saying, "I want to change, but I can't", the therapist helps the client to reframe it: "A part of me wants very much to move forward, and another part of me is terrified to do it." In addition, the therapist helps the client to discover and embody Core Self, which is the compassionate and curious part of the client. This enables the client to look at both of these internal parts without taking sides.

• Honoring The Avoidant Part (The Protector): Traditional psychotherapy often wants to override the client's avoidance. IFS does the opposite: It focuses on the avoidant part first. The IFS therapist asks the client to get curious about the avoidant part by asking: "How is this part protecting you?" and "How did it protect you in the past?". Also, "What is this part afraid will happen if you take this step?" By validating that the avoidant part has a positive intention (e.g., protecting the client from rejection, failure or an old emotional wound), the protecting part usually loosens its grip. This usually doesn't happen immediately because the avoidant part must first learn to trust the Core Self of the client as well as the intention of the therapist.

IFS Therapy and the Approach-Avoidance Conflict

• Facilitating Internal Negotiation: Once each of the conflicting parts feels heard and seen by the client's Core Self and the therapist, the therapist helps the client to invite these parts to talk to each other. The Core Self might ask the avoidant part, "If I promise to go very slowly and protect you, would you be willing to allow the approach part to take a small step?" Since this protective/avoidant part is no longer being resisted or ignored, it usually agrees to soften or step aside temporarily.

• Working With the Wounded Part: Ultimately, the avoidant part is hypervigilant because it's protecting the wounded part of the client. Once this protector feels safe enough to step aside, the IFS therapist guides the Core Self to witness, work through the original trauma and heal. When the underlying emotional pain and trauma have been resolved, the avoidant/protector part usually drops the avoidant behavior because the underlying danger no longer exists.

Clinical Vignette

The following clinical vignette illustrates how the approach-avoidance conflict is overcome in IFS therapy:

John

When John met Donna, he felt a strong attraction to her and he asked her to go out on a date.

As they got to know each other, they both enjoyed each other's company and the new relationship energy that comes with being in a new relationship.

A few months later, as the relationship became more serious, Donna wanted a commitment from John but, even though he knew he loved Donna, he felt himself pulling away from her and he didn't understand what was happening to him.

At that point, Donna's friends told her she should end the relationship because they thought John was a "commitment-phobe".  But Donna felt John was struggling with some kind of internal conflict and she wanted to give him a chance to overcome the conflict, so she suggested that he get help in therapy.

IFS Therapy and the Approach-Avoidance Conflict

Since John also wanted to understand why he felt so conflicted about making a commitment with Donna, he started therapy with an IFS therapist.

John had never heard of IFS therapy, but he was curious as to how it might help him to overcome his internal conflict.

Over time, as they explored John's family history, they discovered that John had an unresolved trauma related to his mother's anxiety and depression. When he was a child, John felt he was unlovable because his mother was emotionally distant and his father was often away on business.

With the help of his therapist, John realized that this old emotional wound was making him feel emotionally vulnerable with Donna in a way where a part of him wanted to escape the relationship, but another part of him wanted to remain, which reflected his ambivalence.

The work in therapy was neither quick nor easy, but John was motivated to work through his internal conflict about making a commitment to Donna. With the help of his therapist, he was able to see the good intention of the avoidant part of him and how it protected him in the past when he was a child.

His therapist guided John into feeling curious and compassionate towards this avoidant/protector part so that, eventually, it softened enough so he and his therapist could work on his traumatized wounded child part.

Over time, John was gradually able to let go of his fear because he had an embodied sense that, unlike when he was a child, he was now safe and more capable of being in a committed relationship with Donna.

Once he was freed from his traumatic history, John made a commitment to Donna and they moved in together with the eventual goal of getting married.

Conclusion

Although many people want to make positive changes in their life, they often experience an ambivalence about the change as the change becomes more of a reality--even when it's something they really want.

In psychotherapy, the approach-avoidance conflict is a common psychological state of tension that occurs when a client is simultaneously drawn towards and repelled by the exact same goal, action or dynamic.

This is a common experience in therapy. 

In traditional psychotherapy, therapists often try to push through the ambivalence, which can make a client feel even more ambivalent, so this usually doesn't work.

An IFS therapist recognizes that we all have many different internal parts and some of these parts are polarized so they are in opposition to each other. They also recognize that this is often outside a client's awareness, so they reach for the ambivalence so it can be worked on.

IFS therapy is ideally suited for dealing with the approach-avoidance conflict.

Get Help in IFS Therapy

If you are stuck in an approach-avoidance dilemma, rather than struggling on your own, you could benefit from working with an IFS therapist.

Get Help in IFS Therapy

Being able to work through the conflict provides you with an opportunity to live a more fulfilling life.

About Me

I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR, AEDP, IFS Parts Work Therapist, EFT Couples Therapist, Somatic Experiencing and Certified Sex Therapist.

I have helped many individual adults and couples over the years.

To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.

I provide a free 10-15 minute telephone call before setting up an appointment.

You can contact me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or you can email me.

Also See My Articles:

Fear of Change 

Overcoming Recurring Patterns of Self Sabotaging Behavior 

Strategies For Making Major Changes in Your Life 

What is Somatic IFS?

Why Are So Many of Us Fearful of Change While Others Embrace It?

According to the latest research, while some people embrace change wholeheartedly, the vast majority of us don't like change--especially change we haven't chosen because it gets us out of our comfort zone.

Making Changes

As a New York City psychotherapist in private practice, I get to see how people respond to making changes--even changes they want--with a mixture of anxious anticipation, fear and ambivalence. 

On the surface, this might not seem to make sense. After all, you might say, if people are coming to therapy voluntarily because they want to make changes, why wouldn't they respond to change with open arms?

As we explore further, although it might not make sense objectively, it does make psychological sense.

Why Is Change so Hard For Most of Us?

When we look beyond the surface, we see that what most people really dislike is the lack of control and the uncertainty involved. 

Looking even further, we discover that, while we might like certain changes that we have chosen--like traveling on a much-anticipated vacation, falling in love or getting a raise at work, we tend to feel resistance to involuntary changes that are imposed on us.

Involuntary change might include:

• An unexpected life event like the death of a loved one, a new health concern or the end of a relationship where there is grief and loss

• A workplace restructuring that might involve reporting to someone new

• A financial loss

• Other similar unexpected changes

Under these involuntary circumstances, the pain and loss can feel confusing and threatening.

Why Do We Have Mixed Feelings About Change We Seek in Therapy?

The individual adults and couples I see in my private practice are all voluntary clients. None of them are mandated to come to therapy.

Making Changes in Therapy

They usually come to therapy, spending their time and hard-earned money in the effort, because some part of them wants to make changes. 

But, for most us, as we begin the change process, we also begin to have mixed feelings about it--even for changes that we really want.

Why is this?

Part of the answer is that the human brain naturally prioritizes predictability and comfort over the discomfort of growth. Even when a change is highly desired and voluntarily chosen, the status quo represents a survival strategy or behavioral pattern that has kept us safe, comfortable or, at least, it was familiar. 

With regard to safe and familiar, as the saying goes, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

In psychotherapy this ambivalence is called the "approach-avoidance conflict" which means that we are simultaneously drawn to the benefits of change and a better life while also being repelled by the fear and effort to change.

In addition, maladaptive behaviors always serve a purpose--even if we don't know what that purpose might be. 

Making Changes in IFS Therapy

For instance, according to IFS Therapy (Internal Family Systems Therapy), we all have many different aspects of ourselves, including protector parts, also known as defense mechanisms in psychodynamic psychotherapy. 

It's common to have protector parts that resist change because these parts assumed these roles in order to "protect" a wounded traumatized part of us.

These protector parts have "good intentions" in terms of their protective roles. Most likely, they were useful at an earlier time in our life as a survival mechanism, but their impact becomes maladaptive as we become adults and these survival mechanisms hold us back. 

For instance, if we learned to become emotionally numb in a dysfunctional family when our parents were fighting, the emotional numbness might have protected us from feeling the overwhelming pain of being abused or neglected.

But, as an adult, becoming emotionally numb while our spouse is telling us how annoyed they are about something we did isn't adaptive anymore. As adults, we need to be attuned and attentive to what our partner is saying if we want our relationship to survive.

We might really want to be a good partner, but if we have a tendency to numb ourselves (also known as "zoning out") when our partner is complaining to us, being present would mean taking the emotional risk that we are now safe enough with our partner to let go of a long-standing defense mechanism, which isn't easy to do.

Another example: If we are working on unresolved trauma, we know logically that our life would be better once we no longer carry the burden of the psychological trauma, but dealing with painful unprocessed emotions might make us want to abandon the effort.

How Can the Change Process Be Easier to Manage?

As a trauma therapist, I can't eliminate the emotional pain with making changes, especially if the change involves processing unresolved trauma, but I can and do help clients to process trauma in manageable ways when possible (see my article: Coping With Emotional Distress in Experiential Therapy Using the Somatic Experiencing Technique of Pendulation).

Although change might not be easy, there are ways to make it more manageable with the help of an experienced therapist:

• Shift Out of An All-or-Nothing Mindset: All-or-nothing thinking sets us up for disappointment when we don't make difficult changes immediately. 

Get Curious About the Change Process

• Adopt Non-Judgemental Curiosity: Instead of viewing fear and ambivalence as a personal failure, get curious about your change process (see my article: How to Develop a Curious Mindset).

• Acknowledge Protective Habits: Recognize that old habits that are no longer adaptive once kept you feeling safe.

• Separate Fear From Action: Learn to carry the physical sensation of fear in therapy while you take steps to make changes.

Progress Isn't Linear

• Expect Non-Linear Progress: Expect that growth involves inevitable ups and downs. Progress isn't a straight line (see my article: Progress in Therapy Isn't Linear).

• Identify What is Controllable: Instead of focusing on what isn't controllable, focus on what you can control right now.

• Remember Prior Resilience: Write down the times when you were able to successfully make changes due to unexpected events and recognize that you probably still have the resilience to make changes now--especially if you approach change in a manageable way rather than all at once.

Challenge Catastrophic Thinking

• Challenge Catastrophic Thinking: Evaluate whether your fears are realistic or if your mind is focusing only on worst-case scenarios (see my article: Are You Catastrophizing?).

• Process Long-Term Regret: Forgive yourself for waiting until now to make changes so that guilt doesn't become an obstacle to making changes.

Conclusion

Change can be difficult.

Even when you seek help in therapy to make much-needed changes, you can experience an approach-avoidance conflict about the process.

Get Help in Therapy

There are steps you can take in the change process, with the help of a therapist, that can make the change more manageable.

In addition, choosing a therapist that allows you to feel safe enough to make changes is important--not only for making changes--but also to have a new experience of safety if you weren't safe when you were growing up (see my article: How to Choose a Psychotherapist).

About Me

I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR, AEDP, IFS/Parts Work Therapist, EFT Couples Therapist, Somatic Experiencing and Certified Sex Therapist.

As an experienced therapist, I have helped many individual adults and couples to make positive change over the years.

To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.

I provide a free 10-15 minute phone call before setting up a first appointment.

To set up an appointment, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.

Also See My Articles:

Overcoming Your Fear of Making Changes

What is a Growth Mindset vs a Fixed Mindset?

Coping With the In-Between State of Change

Why It's Important For Therapists to Provide Clients With Information About How Therapy Works

10 Simple Self-Care Techniques to Reduce Stress and Emotional Overwhelm

These days I find that clients in my New York City psychotherapy private practice are more stressed out and emotionally overwhelmed than I have seen in over 25 years of being a therapist.

Why are people so stressed out and emotionally overwhelmed these days? 

Stress and Emotional Overwhelm

The answer to this question varies for each individual but, in general, many people are feeling exceptionally overwhelmed and stressed out due to the demands of modern living.

The Demands of Modern Living

Modern living forces the human brain to process unprecedented amounts of information, deal with economic unpredictability and collective anxiety, and in many cases people are doing all of this without adequate emotional support.

Societal changes have fundamentally altered how our nervous system functions on a daily basis.  

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), there are several compounding factors that drive widespread stress and mental exhaustion including:

Information Overload and the "Always On" Culture

• Constant Cortisol Spikes: Smartphones and the 24/7 news cycle stream real time global conflicts, economic worries and national division into our lives.

• Vanishing Boundaries: The rise of remote and hybrid work means people never feel fully able to disconnect. This leaves many workers feeling chronically stressed by an inability to log off their phones or computers.

• Emerging Technology Anxiety: Rapid advancements in AI and automated technology have triggered widespread job insecurity and cognitive fatigue, particularly among young adults.

The Crisis of Disconnection

• Deepening Loneliness: The APA report highlights that over half of adults face daily loneliness which severely weakens their ability to bounce back from stress (see my article: Overcoming Loneliness and Social Isolation).

Stress and Emotional Overwhelm

• Lacking Shared Loads: Humans naturally co-regulate stress through close relationships. Without a supportive community, small daily tasks begin to feel like insurmountable obstacles.

• Societal Division: Pervasive social and political discord causes individuals to withdraw, cancel plans and feel increasingly isolated from those around them (see my article: How to Deal With Political Differences Among Your Loved Ones).

Unrelenting Financial and Personal Strain

• The Weight of Inflation: Constant unpredictability regarding the baseline prices of groceries, rent and healthcare act as a persistent, low-grade threat to our fundamental sense of safety.

Stress and Emotional Overwhelm

• Career Anxiety: Roughly 40% of workers actively worry about long-term job security. This has transformed the modern workplace into a primary source of stress and burnout.

Family Stressors and Mental Load

• Family Stressors and Mental Load: Trying to cope with the tasks of managing a healthy relationship and taking care of children are additional stressors (see my article:Sharing the Mental Load in Your Relationship).

What Are 10 Simple Self-Care Techniques to Reduce Stress and Emotional Overwhelm?

When emotional overwhelm and stress take over, the brain struggles to process complex information, which makes simple physical and sensory shifts the most effective ways to reset.

I find that individual clients vary in terms of self-care techniques. Some naturally gravitate to certain practices over others, so you can see which ones work for you.

Here are some techniques that can help you:

Body Based Grounding Techniques

• The 5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Check: Name five things that you see, four things you can physically feel, three things you hear, two things you smell and one thing you can taste to pull your mind out of a stress loop.

Stress Management Techniques

• Square Breathing: Inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for four seconds, exhale for four seconds and hold for four seconds to calm down and lower your heart rate (see my article: What is Square Breathing?).

• Temperature Shift: Splash cold water on your face which physically slows down your racing nervous system.

Micro-Breaks and Environmental Shifts

• The Two-Minute Screen Reset: Close your eyes or look out the window at a distant object for two full minutes to give your brain a break from digital overstimulation.

• Change the Scenery: Step into a different room or walk outside for five minutes so that a swift change in environment can break anxious repetitive thoughts.

• The Sensory Reduction Minute: Sit in a quiet dark room or put on noise-cancelling headphones to eliminate clutter when your mind feels full. 

Stress Management Techniques

• Go Out in Nature: Take a walk, even if it's for five minutes, in a nearby park to reset your body and mind (see my article: Walking in Nature to Improve Your Mood).

Low-Effort Daily Maintenance: 

• The One-Thing Priority: Pick one task to focus on today and give yourself permission to let everything else wait.

• The Hydration Pause: Practice this quick mindfulness technique: Drink a full glass of water slowly while focusing on the physical sensation of swallowing to anchor yourself in the present moment.

• Brain Dumping: Write down every thought, worry or task for three minutes to get the mental clutter out of your head (see my articles: Tips to Cope With Chronic Worrying and Journal Writing to Relieve Stress and Anxiety).

Get Help in Therapy

If you have constant stress and worry and these simple self-care techniques aren't working for you, you could benefit from working with a licensed mental health professional who helps clients to cope with stress and anxiety-related issues.

Get Help in Therapy

Instead of struggling on your own, seek help from a skilled psychotherapist so you can live a more fulfilling life.

About Me

I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR, AEDP, EFT Couples Therapist, IFS/Parts Work, Somatic Experiencing and Certified Sex Therapist.

I have helped many individual adults and couples to overcome stress, emotional overwhelm and trauma.

To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.

Before setting up a first appointment, I provide a free 10-15 phone call.

To set up an appointment, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.

Also See My Articles:

Taking Out Time For Self Care 

What is Toxic Stress? 

Managing Your Emotions During Stressful Times 

Coping With a Difficult Boss 

Balancing Your Personal Life and Your Career 

How is Mind-Body Oriented Psychotherapy Different From Traditional Psychotherapy?

I have written about Experiential Therapy, which is also known as mind-body oriented therapy or bottom up therapy, in prior articles (see links for a list of articles below).

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Therapy

How is Mind-Body Oriented Therapy Different From Traditional Therapy?

Mind-body oriented psychotherapy is different from traditional therapy because it integrates the physical body into the psychological healing process instead of relying only on verbal dialog, intellectual analysis and insight alone.

As I have mentioned in prior articles, traditional talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), uses a "top down" approach focusing on thoughts to influence feelings and behavior.  

In contrast to traditional talk therapy, mind-body oriented therapy or somatic therapy uses as "bottom up" approach. This means it uses physiological regulation in addition to focusing on thoughts and behavior to calm the nervous system and unlock psychological change.

Core Direction of Healing

• Traditional Therapy (top down): Targets the conscious rational mind. It analyzes problems, restructures distorted thinking and explores personal history to change emotional responses.

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Talk Therapy

• Mind-Body Therapy (bottom up): Targets the autonomic nervous system. It addresses how stress and trauma are physically stored in the body as well as posture and breathing patterns.

Comparison of Key Differences

Primary Vehicle

• Traditional Therapy: Verbal communication and cognitive reflection.

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Therapy

• Mind-Body Therapy: Bodily sensations, movement and physiological tracking as well as reflection on the connection between the mind and unconscious processes.

View of the Body

• Traditional Therapy: The body is a passive bystander that reacts to thoughts.

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Therapy

• Mind-Body Therapy: The body is an active partner that can express unspoken trauma.

Key Objectives

• Traditional Therapy: Insight development, behavior modification and narrative reframing.

• Mind-Body Therapy: Nervous system regulation, awareness of the body and trauma processing.

Pacing and Flow

• Traditional Therapy: Continuous conversation, logical analysis and structured debate.

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Therapy

• Mind-Body Therapy: Frequent pauses, mindful silence and inward sensory tracking.

Differences in Applied Technique

• Traditional Therapy: Relies on cognitive restructuring, behavioral tracking, exposure exercises and exploring historical family dynamics.

• Mind-Body Therapy: Incorporates targeted breathwork, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding exercises , containment exercises and psychological and physical release of painful experiences.

Trauma Processing

• Traditional Therapy: Can sometimes overwhelm clients by revisiting traumatic memories in an abstract way without containment.

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Therapy

• Mind-body Therapy: Mind-body therapy, like EMDR therapy, Somatic Experiencing, IFS Therapy and AEDP, focus on discharging the physical survival energy bound to the traumatic memory. This usually provides faster and safer psychological and physiological relief.

Therapeutic Synergy

While traditional therapy and mind-body therapy are distinct, these approaches aren't mutually exclusive. 

Mind-Body Oriented Therapy vs Traditional Therapy

Many modern psychotherapists use an integrative approach where cognitive insights from talk therapy are grounded and stabilized through mind-body oriented techniques.

My Approach

My original training over 25 years ago was in psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy which are both depth-oriented therapies.

Over the years, I trained in mind-body oriented therapies like EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, IFS, AEDP, hypnotherapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples because I found that psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy were limited. 

As a result, I use an integrative approach which combines the best of depth psychology and mind-body oriented therapy to help clients heal emotional wounds.

About Me

I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR, AEDP, IFS/Parts Work, EFT (for couples), Somatic Experiencing and Certified Sex Therapist.

I use an integrated approach to therapy to help individual adults and couples.

To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.

I provide a free 10-15 minute phone call before setting up a first appointment.

To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.

Also See My Articles:

What Are the Benefits of Integrative Therapy?

What is the Difference Between a Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approach to Therapy?

Healing From the Inside Out: Why Intellectual Insight Isn't Enough 

What is Somatic IFS Therapy?