Reuven Cohen, LCSW

Self-love is the only antidote to the chaos of existence. And if you don’t love and care for yourself and your own needs, you will cause unnecessary suffering both for yourself and others. - Dr. JBP

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Reuven Cohen, LCSW's style

Why Reuven Cohen, LCSW chose to be in the helping profession

For me, it all comes back to my mom. She's always been this incredible force of kindness and community service, deeply ingrained in my memory from as far back as I can remember. She's a doctor, specializing in geriatric and internal medicine, and her dedication to helping others has left an indelible mark on me. Her influence was a major factor that shaped my desire to pursue a profession focused on assisting people.

As I grew older and my beliefs and values evolved during my late teens and early twenties, I realized that I wouldn't find true contentment and purpose in life unless I was actively involved in a profession that involved daily interaction with and support for others. It was a blend of my mom's example and my own moral and spiritual development that led me down this path.

Reuven Cohen, LCSW's approach

My approach to therapy is deeply rooted in the understanding that each person is unique and constantly evolving. People are complex, and this complexity requires an ever-adaptive, eclectic approach to therapy. I believe that a therapist's skills must be continuously refined and updated to address the diverse issues and expressions of their clients.

Above all, I place great importance on building a strong therapeutic rapport. It's a fundamental prerequisite for any progress in therapy. This involves open communication and, in my view, even more crucially, a willingness to receive both positive and negative feedback from clients. This fosters an environment where clients feel safe sharing their most personal and sometimes uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Given the inherent individuality of each person, conflicts and misunderstandings are not uncommon. As a clinician, I strive to adapt as best as possible to each client's unique personality, communication style, and mannerisms. Feedback from the client is invaluable in this process.

My therapeutic approach is very client-centered, and I draw substantial inspiration from the work of Carl Rogers. Additionally, I have a strong foundation in behavioral and cognitive therapy, using a combination of these approaches within the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) model to address a wide range of mental health issues. I pay particular attention to the dynamic relationship between beliefs, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Basic CBT skills and related categories like exposure therapy, exposure-response prevention, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are integral to my practice for managing and improving symptoms.

In cases where it's necessary, I incorporate psychodynamic elements to explore root causes and underlying conflicts, especially when these issues impact a client's daily functioning. I often find that unhealthy relationships and interpersonal interactions play a significant role in encouraging, exacerbating, or maintaining mental health symptoms. In such cases, I emphasize Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills and strategies, as well as the development of interpersonal skills like assertive communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. When working with children, parent management training is highly beneficial and often indicated.

I also incorporate somatic skills and techniques to regulate physiological symptoms, such as progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, grounding exercises, and sometimes mindfulness.

When working with couples, I draw heavily from the Gottman Method techniques to learn how to manage differences in a healthy, constructive way, while building a collaborative and supportive relationship.

Motivational interviewing is a crucial tool in my approach, helping clients formulate measurable goals and objectives while ensuring progress toward eventual graduation or discharge from therapy.

While I lean heavily towards evidence-based practices as a primary foundation for effective and reliable treatment, I'm open to incorporating intriguing ideas and seemingly effective techniques and skills from Internal Family Systems (IFS), family systems therapy, and attachment-based therapy when appropriate.

What you can expect from sessions with Reuven Cohen, LCSW

During our sessions, you can expect a person-centered and collaborative approach. I place a strong emphasis on building rapport and fostering open communication and feedback. Our sessions will revolve around the development, implementation, and consolidation of skills and strategies that empower you to maintain competence and independent functioning. My goal is to help you become self-empowered and work towards the eventual goal of graduating or discharging from therapy.

While we work together, I'll also provide psychoeducation to help you better understand your challenges and develop a deeper insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This holistic approach is designed to support your personal growth and overall well-being.

Reuven Cohen, LCSW's experience working with the Jewish community

My experience working with the Jewish community has been predominantly focused on various backgrounds and degrees of religious observance, spanning a wide spectrum that includes individuals who may not be religious at all. I operate in Brooklyn and have had extensive exposure to the diverse Jewish communities in the area, including the Syrian community, as well as other Sephardic and Mizrahi communities, along with various forms of Ashkenazic Judaism.

My clients have ranged in age from young children as early as 6 to geriatric individuals in their 80s. The issues I've addressed in my work with this community include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, various psychotic disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), life transitions, couples counseling, interpersonal and relationship issues, parental management, ADHD/ADD, school performance, and social difficulties.

It's important to note that I do not work with women as individual clients, but I am open to collaborating in collateral or family sessions when working with a male client or in standard couples therapy. My focus has primarily been on providing support and guidance to individuals and families within the male segment of the Jewish community.

Reuven Cohen, LCSW's Book Recommendation Zone

• The Complete Adult Psychotherapy Treatment Planner
• Strive for Truth, Michtav Me'Eliyahu
• Spare the Child
• From Boys to Men
• The River, the Kettle, and the Bird: A Torah Guide to Successful Marriage

Approaches

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Gottman Method
• Motivational Interviewing
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
• Person-Centered Therapy
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
• Somatic Therapy

Concerns

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Bereavement & Grief
• Dating
• Depression
• Emotion regulation
• Life purpose and meaning
• Mood Disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Panic attacks/panic disorder
• Parenting
• Relationships
• Stress management
• Transitions & Change

6 years in practice

Licences

• LCSW/Licensed Clinical Social Work by State of New York 2022. License number 092971
• LCSW/Licensed Clinical Social Work by State of New Jersey 2023. License number 44SC06159500

Degrees

• Master of Social Work by Wurzweiler School of Social Work - Yeshiva University 2018

Trainings

• Gottman Method Couples Therapy: Bridging the Couple Chasm with William M. Bumberry, Ph.D. by NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals 2024
• Us Consciousness: Helping our clients shift from thinking individually to thinking like a team by Terry Real LICSW 2023
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Adolescents and Children with Peter D'Amico, PhD,ABPP by Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health 2023
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Comprehensive Introduction to Core Skills with Martin M. Anthony, PhD by NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals 2023
• An Overview of Internal Family Systems with Bruce Hersey, LCSW by NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals 2024
• The Body Can Change The Score: Somatic Interventions For Trauma with Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW by Core Wellness, LLC 2024
• Intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training with Charles Swenson, M.D. & Kathryn Patrick, LCSW by Neuhoff Psychological Consulting, PLLC

Affiliations

• PsychoTherapist by SBH Community Service Network, Inc. - Counseling Center 2018

Average costs per session

$150 - $175

Payment Methods

• Sliding Scale
• Free consultation
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Zelle Quick Pay