The existential realities of life produce difficult emotions, anxieties, beliefs, and physiological reactions. As result our body protects itself and creates defenses that provide temporary relief. Paradoxically, these defenses also keep us stuck in the status quo of life where suffering is perpetuated; in a place where intimate desires and life meaning are not pursued. Frequently, this phenomenon develops into states of despair, depression, anxiety, and illness that require therapeutic intervention.

Dr Bentson will help you address a variety of personal and relationship challenges in a clear, compassionate, and result-oriented way. His approach is integrative in nature. The complex relationship between emotions, anxieties, defenses, and body reactions are explored, not only intellectually, but also at an experiential level. This increases awareness regarding the need to develop self-care skills. The anxiety provoking realities of change, loss, abandonment, aging, illness, choice, meaninglessness, etc. are also considered within therapy. Finally, Dr. Bentson will ground issues within the context of human relationship where most emotional difficulties occur. His comprehensive approach can accelerate treatment because it attempts to address underlying issues that tend to keep us stuck in life.

Here is a sample of issues at the root of personal and relationship conflicts: inability to tolerate strong emotions (anger, fear, rage, sadness, guilt, shame, etc.); unresolved childhood trauma; disconnection from emotions; fragmentation patterns that derive from trauma, abandonment and inundation anxiety; negative self-belief patterns; denial, intellectualizing and minimizing defenses; blaming; fear of intimacy and emotional closeness; sexual inhibition and disfunction; rigid non-acceptance, boundary and thinking states; depression that masks anger and sadness; detachment from feelings and body sensations; fear of emotional closeness; lack of connection with self; withholding tactics; fear of expressing desires; emotional numbness; low sexual desire; wishful thinking mechanisms; over-reliance of religious beliefs; strict adherence to family mandates; inability to tolerate new experiences; fear of expressing truth; inability to verbalize feelings; inability to ask for what one needs and wants; chronic grieving processes; gender biases; etc.

Dr. Bentson’s integrative approach brings together the best of neuropsychology, mindfulness, somatic-based therapy, existential philosophy, attachment therapy, short-term dynamic psychology, positive psychology, trauma therapy, existential-humanistic orientations, cognitive-emotional based approaches, and life-coaching strategies.