Michael Hartman, LMHC

Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’. - Viktor Frankl

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Michael Hartman, LMHC's style

Why Michael Hartman, LMHC chose to be in the helping profession

I made the deliberate choice to embark on a career in the helping profession, drawn from my own enduring journey of grappling with anxiety and mood regulation challenges. This personal journey, extending from my formative years through adulthood, equipped me with a profound understanding of the nuances surrounding these emotional struggles.

In navigating my own discomfort, I cultivated a desire to extend a supportive hand to others confronting comparable adversities. This commitment stems from the recognition that the struggles we face, particularly in the realm of emotions, are both universal and uniquely personal. It is my earnest desire to leverage my experiences and insights to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of individuals navigating similar emotional landscapes, fostering resilience and facilitating a journey towards greater mental and emotional equilibrium.

Michael Hartman, LMHC's approach

I have adopted a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approach in my practice and co-founded InsightDBT alongside my esteemed business partner, Paul Kaplan, LCSW. Our mission at InsightDBT is to provide comprehensive support to teens, families, and adults grappling with a spectrum of challenges, including anxiety, depression, mood fluctuations, personality complexities, impulsivity, suicidality, and difficulties within family and social relationships.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, an integral facet of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is tailored specifically for individuals contending with the aforementioned issues. The core objective is to empower clients and their families to relearn adaptive coping mechanisms for both emotional and environmental challenges. By engaging in DBT, individuals embark on a transformative journey, liberating themselves from the clutches of emotional turmoil that may have pervaded their lives.

In the realm of DBT, therapists have coined the phrase "Live a Life Worth Living" to encapsulate the essence of the therapeutic process. This approach is designed to guide clients toward rediscovering their authentic selves, unencumbered by the chaos that emotional struggles may have imposed. My overarching goal is for clients to not only comprehend but truly believe in their capacity for change, enabling them to experience improved well-being and lead lives imbued with purpose and positivity. It is my firm belief that each individual has the potential to feel better, effect positive change, and embrace a life marked by health and meaning.

What you can expect from sessions with Michael Hartman, LMHC

In our sessions, you can anticipate a highly structured and comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program that goes beyond the conventional therapy experience. Our approach is manualized, ensuring a systematic and effective framework. The intensity of our program is notably elevated, offering a 60-minute individual session each week. Additionally, we conduct mandatory 90-minute Skills Group sessions on Sundays, providing essential insights and tools for navigating challenges.

To address immediate concerns and crises, we offer complimentary Phone Coaching sessions between therapy sessions. This proactive approach aims to assist individuals in managing emotionally charged moments as they arise, fostering a more immediate and personalized form of support.

Our program is intentionally designed to be more robust than traditional therapy, recognizing that this level of intensity often proves instrumental in achieving meaningful and lasting change—particularly when conventional therapeutic approaches may have fallen short of meeting the desired outcomes for clients and their families.

For teenage clients, active family involvement is a key component. At least one parent is required to attend our weekly Family Skills Group alongside their child. This collaborative setting enables teens and their families to engage in skills learning directly from the DBT manual, fostering a supportive community with other individuals undergoing similar experiences. Through this holistic approach, we aim to provide the necessary support for personal growth and positive transformation, ensuring that individuals and their families find the change they seek in a structured and collaborative environment.

Michael Hartman, LMHC's experience working with the Jewish community

Throughout my entire professional journey, I have dedicated my efforts exclusively to the Jewish community, gaining invaluable experience working with individuals spanning the spectrum from frum to secular. My practice has encompassed both singles and married individuals, affording me a comprehensive understanding of the diverse needs within the Jewish community. Presently, I serve as a supervisor and clinician at a Crown Heights Mental Health Clinic, where I not only conduct but also oversee the treatment of Jewish clients.

My unique perspective is shaped by my personal journey as a Baal Teshuva. Having traversed both secular and frum lifestyles, I bring a nuanced understanding to my work that extends beyond professional knowledge. This personal transformation has equipped me with sensitivity and insight into the intricacies of religious and secular dynamics, fostering a deeper connection with my clients.

In alignment with the community's values, I maintain ongoing supervision with a Jewish supervisor. Furthermore, I have cultivated close relationships with two esteemed Rabbis, providing me with a reliable resource for addressing any potential Halachic questions that may arise. While such situations have not presented challenges in the past, having a robust support network ensures that I am well-prepared to navigate any nuances that may emerge. This commitment to cultural and religious sensitivity underscores my dedication to providing effective and tailored mental health support within the context of the Jewish community.

Michael Hartman, LMHC's Book Recommendation Zone

• Man’s Search for Meaning
• DBT Skills Workbook
• The Catcher in The Rye

Approaches

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Concerns

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Body image
• Depression
• Drug/Substance Abuse
• Emotion regulation
• Personality issues & disorders
• Self-Harm/Suicidality
• Stress management
• Trauma

6 years in practice

Licences

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor by New York Dept. of Professions 2021. License number 011840

Certificates

• Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapsit by Evergreen and Dr. Lane Peterson 2022

Average costs per session

$200

Payment Methods

• Sliding Scale
• Free consultation
• Cash
• Check
• Credit Card

Insurances

• out of network