Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW

I can change by what happened to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it. (Maya Angelou)

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Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW's style

Why Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW chose to be in the helping profession

I chose to be in this profession because I wanted to bring a voice to those whose voices are not heard, bring healing to individuals who have been abused, assist couples to build the home of their vision, and facilitate post-traumatic growth.

Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW's approach

My therapeutic approach is eclectic, blending a combination of the following modalities for individual therapy — Ego State Therapy (working with parts,) PIT (Pia Mellody’s inner child work,) EMDR, Brainspotting, Progressive Counting, Somatic Intervention, Flash, ACT, and Sand Play therapy — according to your needs and preferences.

As a Developmental and Relational Trauma Therapist (DRTT,) a lot of my work is with individuals and couples who experienced hurt in a relationship, either in their family of origin, or from community members, outsiders, peers, and intimate partners, ranging in severity and including experiences of dysfunction, neglect, physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

What you can expect from sessions with Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW

Trauma survivors have had control taken from them and, often, have not had their pain validated, nor received the empathy they deserve. I want therapy to be a corrective experience where you feel empowered to have your own voice, feel seen and heard, know that your feelings matter, feel respected, and feel safe. If you want to understand what I am doing, and why I am doing it, I am happy to provide that psycho-education, so that you can understand the process. I will also work with you to define your goals, choices of modalities, and pace of therapy. If you are an educated consumer, your knowledge is greatly appreciated, and any initiative that you wish to take in your journey is honored and affirmed.

Over time, through the combination of learning of skills, and, if needed, the processing of adverse life events or traumas, you will see a significant improvement in the areas you are looking to address and will develop the skills to continue this growth on your own. This can include improved self worth, ability to regulate emotions, ability to establish healthy boundaries and to develop closer relationships, development of a positive sense of self/identity, lifting of depression, reduction of anxiety, and a sense of wholeness that comes with the healing of deep emotional wounds.

If you are coming for couples work, I will use a combination of skill building, insight, and a limited amount of trauma processing with your partner there to support you. My focus is on developing safety, respect and a deep attunement and empathy for each other’s feelings. If there is underlying trauma playing a part in yours or your spouse’s response to a situation, I will help the one who is reacting to process their reaction and gain the understanding and skills to soothe the deeper hurt rooted in past traumatic events. I will also help the other spouse to be supportive and caring of this process. Doing this work together, you will deepen your connection with each other in a meaningful way. In addition, if there is a high level of conflict, my training in Schema Couples Therapy will allow me to help both parties work with very challenging behaviors.

Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW's experience working with the Jewish community

My extensive involvement within the Jewish community, particularly in Lakewood, has been a cornerstone of my professional journey. Spurred to undertake my first initiative by an emotional caller asking me to say tehillim for a friend who was sick, I continued to dedicate my efforts to community-level initiatives, contributing to the organization of various programs. As Program Director of Mishmeres, the high school program of Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, I played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing programs for students, teachers and individuals, including co-creating a high school curriculum conveying the Torah's values concerning the dignity of every human being and the significance of our words and behaviors to others. This experience deepened my understanding and appreciation of the Torah's emphasis on the importance of these values. My work for Mishmeres preceded my pursuit of a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and provided me with a wealth of values and insights that are regularly incorporated in to my work.

Beth (Bassie) Gugenheim, LCSW's Book Recommendation Zone

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
• Trauma and Recovery
• Gifts of a Challenging Childhood

Approaches

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-based
• Brainspotting
• EMDR
• Inner child work
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Concerns

• Abuse/Violence
• Bereavement & Grief
• Codependency
• Depression
• Dissociative disorders
• Emotion regulation
• Life purpose and meaning
• Personality issues & disorders
• Relationships
• Stress management
• Transitions & Change
• Trauma

10 years in practice

Licenses

• LCSW by Board of Social Work Examiners 2018. License number 44SC05770700

Degrees

• MSW by Adelphi University 2013

Awards

• Dean's Award for Academic Excellence by Adelphi University 2013

Certificates

• Developmental and Relational Trauma Therapist by Healing Our Core Issues Institute 2016

Trainings

• EMDR by Clearpath Training Center 2019
• PC and Flash by TICTI 2023
• Brainspotting I and II by David Grand 2023
• ACT for anxiety, depression, trauma by Russ Harris 2016,2018,2019
• Ego State levels I and II by Maggie Phillips 2020
• PIT by Healing Our Core Issues Institute 2016

Average costs per session

$200 - $250

Payment Methods

• Sliding Scale
• Cash
• Check
• Zelle Quick Pay