Jeremy Litfin, LMHC
Message from Jeremy
Hi my name is Jeremy. I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor who is passionate about working with young hardworking ambitious people with anxiety trying to shake off that inner critic. Thank you for reaching out, sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part and can feel overwhelming. Together we will get to identify your underlying issues and work together to make meaningful change at a pace you are comfortable with.
About Jeremy 's practice
Weekends After 5pm
Weekends 9am - 5pm
$
Directive
Reflective
Body-based
In-person available: No
Virtual available: Yes
Masculinity-Related Stress
Anxiety
Self-Esteem
Cigna
Oxford
Oscar
United / Oxford
NY
Why state matters
Get to Know Jeremy
"I’ve known and worked with Jeremy Litfin for five years now, since we started together at an outpatient mental health clinic. We also worked together at a group private practice. I’ve had the opportunity to see him grow tremendously in his personal and professional lives, developing more trustworthy relationships with his clients where they felt really comfortable opening up. He developed his skills to really help individuals target their anxiety and what it was masking. He is passionate about the work he does, and became proficient in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy to personalize his approach based on what clients needed. I highly recommend him as a therapist as he allows you to proceed at your own pace, really tackling the anxiety and other feelings underneath the surface."
Anonymous, Colleague
How should I prepare for my first session with you?
Once you schedule your first session, you will be sent a questionnaire with information to fill out prior to your first visit. This will cover some basic information about why you are seeking therapy and logistical stuff, which we can review during the first session. During the first visit, be prepared for an initial intake session which will include gathering information about your current situation as well as your history as a first step toward developing a preliminary plan for your care. Logistically please try to bring your insurance card if you'd like to use insurance and cash or check if possible for payment
Are there any philosophies or values that inform your work that I should know about?
The following beliefs inform my practice and I tend to find that the clients I work best with resonate with some of these beliefs Adult Life should be more meaningful and fulfilling than it is for many people Societal norms and messaging are very constraining and prevent people from developing into their ideal self Anxiety and Depression are as much a societal problem as a personal problem, society is structured in a way to lead people to feel bad about themselves and never feel good enough The relationship between therapist and client and the ability of a therapist to be fully present with their client and fully understand their client is the most powerful part of therapy All emotions are valid and represent something Combining head and heart are important in good decision making
Where did you work before going into private practice?
I worked for four years in a Community Outpatient Mental Health Clinic providing therapy for children and adults with a wide range of presenting issues. I also worked for almost a year in a group private practice. I am currently working as an Associate Director in a Community Mental Health Clinic. This role includes supervision of other therapists.
What led you to become a mental healthcare practitioner?
Demeanor and skillset that makes me a good fit for this role. Strong sense of empathy and interest in helping people, interest in personal growth and promoting growth in others.
What is unique about the work you do, or how have you found your work to be different than your colleagues'?
I think as a male therapist I have a particular ability to understand men’s issues and the unique challenges that men face when engaging in therapy and the issues they bring to therapy
What is the best part of the work for you?
Seeing you make changes in your life and how you feel about yourself. Seeing you better recognize your own strengths and abilities. Seeing you be able to carry things you have learned in therapy to your day to day life.
Please share 2-3 anonymized examples of how the work can play out and/or look in the room so that I can form a visual or narrative of what to expect.
1.) Client expressed something they are worried about. I assisted client with breaking down all this bottled up anxiety inside of them and what is their worst case scenario. I also helped them identify how likely this worst case scenario is, based on previous experiences they’ve had and what is the most likely scenario. I also helped them to identify how they may be able to cope with this worst case scenario, in the small chance it happened, to take away some of the intensity of anxiety. 2.) Client was having a lot of difficulty making an important life decision. I helped client to break down their decision and help them better identify potential results of different options, identifying pros and cons and helping them to consider both emotional impact of the decision as well as practical impact of the decision. I helped client identify who in their social network might be beneficial/useful to help them with making the decision. I helped client identify, challenge, and work through negative thoughts and beliefs that were holding them back from making a decision that might move their life forward. 3.) Client brought up a recent situation where they experienced a lot of anxiety. I asked client to break down all the thoughts coming to mind about this situation. I helped client brainstorm other ways to view the situation based on the knowledge/life experience they’ve had. I asked client to identify how they feel after they considered different ways of viewing the situation and their comfort level with this new way of viewing the situation.
Is there ever a time when you would encourage me to leave or graduate? Or how do I know when it's time to end or move on, or time to stay and explore more?
Many people are in and out of therapy throughout their lives. The clients I work with are generally insightful enough to recognize when they need therapy and when they are in a space where they can manage without it. If it feels like there is no movement being made and there doesn’t feel like there is much to work on, it may be time to stop. If, for any reason, you are starting to resent coming to therapy or are not finding it helpful, then you should bring that up. If I see that there is very little to work on in session or sessions feel very repetitive, I will reflect that back to you and we can collaboratively decide if it is time to stop.
If I have never been to therapy before, what should I expect? How do I know if I should go, and how do I start?
You should expect that the first few sessions will involve getting to know you and a lot of exploration around whats bringing you to seek therapy. I can definitely understand you being on the fence, because therapy is an acknowledgment that you need help and there can be some stigma attached to that. I would say that seeking help is actually a sign of strength and that you have good self awareness and care and value yourself. I would say give it a try, as most people who try it end up benefiting. Like with any new experience, it may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but you will likely leave therapy in a better place and with a new perspective. You can always stop if it’s not working for you or you don’t feel it’s the right fit. I suggest sharing any concerns/fears you have about being in therapy at the start of therapy and throughout therapy.
How will our relationship be different than relationships I have with friends/loved ones?
There is no emotional attachment, so you can say things freely in their most natural form without concern about how it will affect me. The information you share is confidential, which allows you to feel more safe and open than relationships outside of therapy. I have specific skills and training that enable me to help you understand experiences that may feel overwhelming or difficult to talk about. I can help teach you strategies to overcome your issues.
How participatory are you during sessions?
I lean toward being participatory. I will ask you a lot of thought provoking questions, review progress between sessions, and teach and review strategies.
How much do you share about yourself during our time together and why?
I value the time and money that you invest in therapy and therefore I believe the therapy is a space to focus on you and not about me. However I respect and understand that for some people the therapeutic relationship can be intimidating when you share vulnerability with someone and don’t know anything about them. I am open to sharing information about myself if you ask about it and it seems like it would be beneficial for you to progress in therapy
How long should I commit to being in therapy, at least in the beginning?
I’d say give it 3 months, it takes about 3 months to really refine your goals for therapy and get a feel for whether therapy will help you and whether this is the right fit.
How do you approach diversity in the room or working with clients who may come from a different background than you?
I ask questions and never make assumptions. I check in on how this may be impacting the experience.
How can you tell if I am feeling stuck, unseen, or unheard?
This is a pretty rare occurrence with my clients because I am frequently checking in on your experience of our sessions. Possible signs that would tell me you are feeling this way are if you frequently correct me and feel I am not getting your experience. Additionally this may be happening if you are having trouble opening up to me or if you start canceling sessions.
How can you tell if I am benefiting from working with you?
If you start feeling like you can handle and manage things that you couldn't before this is a real sign that therapy is working
Have you received any particular training beyond your post-Bachelor's training?
I became certified in Problem Solving Therapy and am a certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I also have attended many workshops including workshops in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness Strategies, and Treatment Techniques for Anxiety.
From your perspective, what is therapy?
When working with me therapy is a space for you to make changes in yourself and your life to alleviate suffering and/or promote personal growth. Working with me will help you to gain a much better understanding of yourself and increase self acceptance. When you are able to see and accept all parts of yourself and unburden yourself you will feel relief and can then focus on moving forward.
Do you have experience (5-10 years+) working with any types of obstacles or people in particular?
Anxiety, Depression, Young Adults
Do you assign homework, activities, or readings for me to do between sessions? Why or why not?
There is always some kind of plan we are discussing for you to work on between sessions. Sometimes this might be a specific therapy assignment and other times it is just something to work on or pay attention to in your life between now and the next session. I do believe it is important to practice things discussed in therapy in your day to day life to increase your confidence and independence. However, I am not rigid about requiring you to do homework or any specific amount of homework. The amount of work to be done between sessions is really up to you and how much you want and are able to put into therapy outside of sessions