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Marriage Counseling in Nassau County, NY

Marriage Counseling in Nassau County, NY with Chana Pfeifer, LCSW

Marriage Counseling in Nassau County, NY

One of the most important aspects of Imago relationship therapy is that it’s not about being right, proving a point, or winning an arguement.

It’s about actively listening, being heard, validation, and being in tune with our partner.

The idea behind Imago therapy is that two people can have completely different views, and it doesn’t mean that one is right and the other is wrong.

To assist the transformation of all relationships, IMAGO RELATIONSHIP THERAPY was created, which is applicable to couples, families, parents, and professionals who seek to be more effective in their life and relationships.

Learn how to connect through differences and become more present in all of your relationships.

When using Imago therapy in marriage counseling, you will learn dialogue techniques that encourages true communication and validation. If you’re looking for the best relationship therapy that can help improve your marriage for the long term, Imago counseling is a good bet.

Get Help From a Licensed Relationship Counselor

Chana Pfeifer LCSW Long IslandFOR OVER 22 YEARS, CHANA PFEIFER HAS BEEN HELPING INDIVIDUALS & COUPLES IN NY ACHIEVE GREATER COPING SKILLS TO MANAGE LIFE’S STRESSES & CHALLENGES.

(516) 592-1107 – Phone, Video, and In-Person Appointments

 

 

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Interested in marriage counseling in Nassau County? Chana assists couples with many types of disconnect:

  • Communication Issues
  • Emotional Neglect
  • Stop celebrating milestones
  • Lack of Romance
  • Resentment
  • Too Much Stress
  • Divorce
  • Infidelity
  • Not Having Fun Together
  • Parenting
  • Pre-Marital Check-Ins
  • Dealing In-Laws
  • Grief / Death of Loved Ones
  • Depression / Anxiety

Whatever form your relationship issues may take, talking with a counselor can help you ease the burden of your emotions. Contact Chana Pfiefer to set up an appointment for individual and/or couples counseling in West Hempstead, NY.

Marriage Counseling in Nassau County, New York

Nassau County is in the state of New York and located east of New York City. Nassau together with Suffolk to its east, are generally referred to as Long Island. Nassau County is the wealthiest county in New York.

A little history of Nassau County, New York:

In 1640, the Dutch controlled Manhattan, then known as New Amsterdam, when a small group of New England British arrived hoping to relocate near Oyster Bay, NY. Dutch authorities soon forced the Englishmen eastward where they eventually established the town of Southampton, NY.

In 1643, another band of adventurous New Englanders crossed the Long Island Sound from Connecticut. The colonists landed at Manhasset Bay, traversed the thick North Shore woodlands, and established the town of Hempstead near clear streams and ponds. The small number of Indians in Nassau declined rapidly through disease brought by the settlers. Today many Native American place names are a reminder of Long Island’s original residents.

In 1670, Daniel Denton reported to England that the inhabitants of Long Island “are blessed with Peace and Plenty, blessed in their Country, blessed in their fields.”

In 1683, Long Island was divided into three counties: Kings, Suffolk, and Queens. Queens included western Long Island, as well as the present day towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay. The towns grew slowly as a quiet agricultural area through the early 1700’s, although its plains provided ideal sites for colonial horse racing tracks.

In 1898, all the western towns in Queens became part of New York City. The eastern towns–Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay–were excluded from Greater New York but remained part of Queens County.

On January 22nd of that year, a citizens’ meeting in Allen’s Hotel in Mineola set the stage for the secession of the three towns by proposing the creation of a new Nassau County. The name was proposed since it reflects the region’s earliest Dutch and English colonial heritage, and was used for Long Island as the “Isle of Nassau” honoring William III (1650-1702), who was King of England, Stadholder (governor) of the Netherlands, member of the House of Nassau, and great-grandson of the Prince of Orange. After a bitter battle in Albany, the law creating the new county was signed by Governor Frank S. Black on April 27th, to take effect on January 1st of 1899.

County residents elected the officials of the new county and chose the location of the county seat within one mile of the railroad station Mineola. Today, it is still an easy walk from the Mineola railroad station to county buildings actually located in adjacent Garden City.

The courthouse referendum indicates the important role the railroad played in local growth. By the end of the Civil War in 1865, tracks ran along the center, and the north and south shores of the Island. By the turn of the century, the Long Island Rail Road had become the dominant means of transportation to New York city. In 1911, the railroad completed direct rail service to Pennsylvania Station in the heart of Manhattan. The population of Nassau’s small villages along the railroad lines swelled with commuters, leaping from 55,448 in 1900 to 303,053 in 1930.

Towns located along the tracks–Port Washington, Rockville Centre, Freeport among them–experienced rapid growth as the population expanded with commuters and local businesses to support them. Trains and steamboats also brought tourists to the picturesque seaside. Waterfront communities such as Sea Cliff, founded as a Methodist camp meeting ground, blossomed. The wooded North Shore attracted prominent New Yorkers to establish vacation homes.

In the early 1900’s, up to the Depression of the early 1930’s, North Shore farmlands became the site of luxurious country estates for wealthy New Yorkers. The Long Island “Gold Coast” across the entire north shore of Nassau has left a legacy of elegance, open space, and spectacular architecture still evident today.

Even before the Civil War, noted editor William C. Bryant established his country estate, Cedarmere, in Roslyn. In 1899, telegraph company magnate Clarence Mackay erected his 650-acre Harborhill complex, also in Roslyn. In 1885, Theodore Roosevelt built Sagamore Hill at Oyster Bay. Roosevelt reveled in Nassau County life, writing, “There could be no healthier place to bring children up.” Hundreds of thousands of other Nassau residents have agreed for the better part of a century.

As commuter villages grew, the drone of engines from above shattered the peace and quiet of the Hempstead Plains. Early aviators soared overhead, testing their craft above this tremendous, flat, open prairie. Spectators thronged to two nationally significant airstrips: Roosevelt Field, a center of civilian aviation, and nearby Mitchel Field, a major army air base.

The aviation industry mushroomed in Nassau County during World War II. America’s most famous warplanes, vital to victory, were manufactured at the Grumman and Republic factories. There production continued as a major part of the county’s economic base during the post war years, climaxed during the 1960’s when the technicians at Grumman built the Lunar Module which successfully landed on the moon in July 1969.

When the guns of World War II fell silent, the boys came home and another wave of settlers transformed Nassau County. An advertisement in Newsday on May 7th, 1947, offered 2,000 homes for $60 a month in a new development built on the open Hempstead plains. By the end of the month, more than 6,500 veterans had filed applications for the new housing units of Levittown.

A giant population wave changed Nassau County, almost overnight from a rural farming community to the nation’s largest suburb. So frenetic was the growth during the 1950’s that the number of people moving into the county in a single year often surpassed the entire population of 55,448 in 1900. The population doubled in ten years from 1950 to 1960, increasing from 672,000 to 1,300,700, reaching a peak of 1,428,838 in 1970. Major redevelopment of the east/west parkway systems created just before World War II were supplemented by the creation of additional north/south parkways and the Long Island Expressway.

In the subsequent decades of the 1980’s and ’90’s, population growth ceased but the county’s economic base and business/educational/recreational infrastructure changed dramatically as every aspect matured within the changes affecting all of America. Manufacturing, particularly the aviation industry, declined while retail and service employment boomed. A dramatic increase in office construction with some buildings exceeding over 1,000,000 square feet, changed the Nassau horizon and established it as a major place of white collar employment. Nassau County family income is in the top ten percent of the nation with the number one retail sales per household. (source)

Within Nassau County, there are 2 cities, 3 towns, 64 incorporated villages and over 100 unincorporated areas such as:

Atlantic Beach, Village

Baxter Estates, Village
Bayville, Village
Bellerose, Village
Brookville, NY
Cedarhurst, Village
Centre Island, Village
Cove Neck, Village
East Hills, Village
East Rockaway, Village
East Williston, Village
Farmingdale, Village
Floral Park, Village
Flower Hill, Village
Freeport, Village
Garden City, NY
Glen Cove, City
Great Neck Estates, Village
Great Neck Plaza, Village
Great Neck, NY
Hempstead, NY
Hewlett Bay Park, Village
Hewlett Harbor, Village
Hewlett Neck, Village
Island Park, Village
Kensington, Village
Kings Point, NY
Lake Success, Village
Lattingtown, NY
Laurel Hollow, Village
Lawrence, Village
Long Beach, NY
Lynbrook, Village
Malverne, Village
Manorhaven, NY
Massapequa Park, Village
Matinecock, Village
Mill Neck, Village
Mineola, Village
Munsey Park, Village
Muttontown, NY
New Hyde Park, Village
North Hills, Village
Old Brookville, Village
Old Westbury, NY
Oyster Bay Cove, Village
Oyster Bay, Town
Plandome Heights, Village
Plandome Manor, Village
Plandome, Village
Port Washington, NY
Rockville Centre, NY
Roslyn Estates, Village
Roslyn Harbor, Village
Roslyn, Village
Russell Gardens, Village
Saddle Rock, Village
Sands Point, NY
Sea Cliff, Village
South Floral Park, Village
Stewart Manor, Village
Thomaston, Village
Upper Brookville, Village
Valley Stream, NY
Westbury, NY
Williston Park, Village
Woodsburgh, Village

Imago Therapy in West Hempstead, NY

Imago Therapy in West Hempstead, NY with Chana Pfeifer, LCSW

Imago therapy was created by Drs. Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt, internationally-respected couples’ therapists, educators, speakers, and New York Times bestselling authors. Together, they’ve written over 10 books with more than 4 million copies sold including, Getting The Love You Want: A Guide for Couples. In addition, Harville has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey television program 17 times!

Chana Pfeifer, LCSW * The Happier Me
Chana Pfeifer with Harville Hendrix

One of the most important components of Imago therapy is that it’s not about being right. The idea behind Imago therapy is that two people can have completely different world views, and it doesn’t mean that one is right and the other is wrong.

The goal in this is not to be right. It’s not proving a point. It’s about actively listening, being heard, validation, and being in tune with our partner.

To assist the transformation of all relationships, Harville & Helen co-created IMAGO RELATIONSHIP THERAPY, which is applicable to couples, families, parents, and professionals who seek to be more effective in their life and relationships.

Learn how to connect through differences and become more present in all of your relationships.

For additional information on Imago Therapy in West Hempstead, contact Chana Pfeifer, LCSW today.

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Counseling for Grief – Benefits of Therapy for Dealing With Grief

Counseling for grief can be very beneficial in dealing with sad emotions.

It is natural to experience grief when a loved one passes away.

It can be especially hard for people who had a difficult relationship with the person who passed away, or if they did not have time to say goodbye before their loved one died.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
– Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)

Grief is a difficult emotion to deal with, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Counseling can help you to process your emotions, work through your grief, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. It gives you the opportunity to talk about your loved one, share memories, and express your feelings in a safe and supportive environment.

Grief counseling can help people cope with their loss in a healthy way.

Prevent complicated grief, which is when someone experiences intense grief that lasts for a long time and interferes with their ability to live a normal life. Complicated grief can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide. Counseling can help you to avoid these negative outcomes and to find a way to cope with your loss in a healthy way.

Counseling uses natural, evidence-based methods to help people with complicated grief. You’ll learn new skills and techniques to help you cope with your grief that are based on proven research.

Therapy can help people to learn how to live their lives without their loved one.

Grief counseling can help you to learn how to live your life without your loved one. This can be a difficult task. Therapy stops the cycle of grief so that you can start to heal. You’ll learn how to deal with your emotions, how to cope with triggers, and how to develop a new support system. You’ll also learn how to create a new life for yourself without your loved one.

Therapy can help people find meaning in their loss.

Grief counseling can make a world of difference to heal your wounds, remember the good / bad times, and find a way to move forward in your life. You don’t have to go through this alone. Counseling can help you to find meaning in your loss and to develop a new life without your loved one.

Counseling can help you develop a new sense of self.

As you become more comfortable with your new life without your loved one, you’ll develop a new sense of who you are. Counseling can help you by providing support, guidance, and skills to help you cope with your loss.

Other than counseling it can also be helpful to talk to friends and family members who are supportive and understanding. Sometimes, it can be helpful to read books or articles about grief or to join a support group for people who are grieving. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and you will eventually find your own way to cope with your loss.

To sum it all up, grief counseling can help you starting from today. It will change the way you look at death, your relationship with the deceased, and how you live your life from here on out.

Contact me to set up an appointment.

Do yourself a favor: See a premarital counselor before getting married.

Getting married is a huge step in life. It’s a commitment that should not be taken lightly. And, like any other important decision, it’s best to approach it with as much information and preparation as possible. That’s where seeing a premarital counselor comes in.

Premarital counseling is a type of therapy that can help couples prepare for marriage. It’s an opportunity to identify and work through any potential issues that might arise in the relationship. Counseling can also help couples build a strong foundation for their future together.

If you’re considering getting married, talking with a premarital counselor is a great way to start off on the right foot. It can help you and your partner learn more about each other and identify any areas that need work. Counseling can also provide a space for you to openly discuss your expectations, goals, and fears about marriage.

If you’re not sure if premarital counseling is right for you, here are a few things to consider:

  • Are you and your partner on the same page about your relationship?
  • Do you have concerns or deal-breakers that could affect your marriage?
  • Are you both committed to working through problems together?
  • Do you want to learn more about your partner before getting married?
  • Are you willing to openly discuss sensitive topics with a counselor?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, premarital counseling could be a good fit for you.

Why premarital counseling is a must before you get married:

It can help you and your partner learn more about each other.

Premarital counseling is a great way to get to know your partner on a deeper level. It’s an opportunity to discuss your hopes, dreams, and fears about marriage. Counseling can also help you learn more about your partner’s communication style and how they handle conflict. This knowledge can be invaluable as you navigate the ups and downs of married life.

It can identify potential areas of conflict.

No relationship is perfect, and all couples will face challenges at some point. Premarital counseling can help you and your partner identify any potential areas of conflict. This knowledge can help you develop strategies for dealing with these issues if they arise in the future.

It can help you build a strong foundation for your marriage.

Premarital counseling is an opportunity to discuss your expectations, goals, and values about marriage. It’s a chance to set the tone for your future together. Counseling can also help you learn how to communicate effectively and resolve conflict in a healthy way. These skills will be essential as you navigate the ups and downs of married life.

Getting married is a big step, and it’s natural to feel some anxiety about the future. Speaking with a premarital counselor can provide peace of mind by helping you & your partner address concerns you have about marriage. Counseling can help you develop realistic expectations about married life. This knowledge can help you approach your marriage with confidence.

If you’re considering getting married, premarital counseling is a great way to start off on the right foot. It can help you and your partner learn more about each other, identify potential areas of conflict, and build a strong foundation for your future together.

If you’re interested in premarital counseling, contact me for more information.

Healthy couples get help when conflict around in-laws is problematic.

Counseling with Chana Pfeifer, LCSW: Conflict Around In-Laws

Are you arguing about your parents or your partner’s parents a lot?

Do you try to talk about it, but end up always arguing instead?

Are there hurt feelings / unsaid things piling up on either side?

If so, you may be caught up in a negative cycle. It may be time to get help for your relationship before the hurts start to pile up. Healthy couples get help when conflict around in-laws becomes problematic.

Regardless of what’s causing the friction, couples report that long-term stress is a consequence of having difficulties with family members. There starts to be a  dread of family gatherings for the distress and exchanges they can invite.

What can you do? Establish boundaries early.

You may need to start out with gentle reminders, as things are unlikely to change overnight.

This can be done compassionately, but firmly. Overall, your approach needs to be strict in consistently enforcing the boundaries you’ve drawn. If the situation allows, be friendly, tactful, straightforward, and respectful. Think of how you’d handle a disagreeable situation with a co-worker.

If, however, your in-laws continue to disrespect your boundaries and wishes, you may need to approach them with a little less tact. Think of a boss putting an employee in his place. No matter what, establish boundaries early.

A lot of couples will not draw their boundaries until they have to. You can avoid a great deal of heartache, disappointment, and distress by letting your limits be known early on.

I would love to help you sort through in-law difficulties in your relationship so you can have harmony within your family.

Let’s see how we can help you resolve these dilemmas and renew the love, trust, connection you long to have.

Contact me for more information on therapy today.

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Premarital Counseling: Relationships with In-Laws

Premarital Counseling with Chana Pfeifer, LCSW in Long Island, NY – Relationships with the Family & In-Laws

Your relationship with your partner’s parents and family may be one of the most significant relationships in your married life.

It is important at the outset of your marriage, and in the first years of your marriage to understand these relationships and what blessings and also difficulties may be ahead for you and your spouse.

Below are a few important relationship aspects to think about before getting married:

1. List a few character traits / attributes about your partner’s parents that you really like. Why do you like these attributes?

2. What kind of involvement do you expect and / or want from your in-laws? Do you like over-involvement (closeness) more than under-involvement (distance) as a general rule (or visa versa)?

3. How do you feel about your spouse’s relationship with his / her parents?

4. What kind of relationship do you think you have with your in-laws? What kind of relationship do you want?

5. Do you look at your in-laws as mostly a help or a hindrance in your upcoming or current marriage?

6. Do your partner’s parents generally respect your boundaries?

These are just a few things to think about before getting married. In premarital counseling, you and your future spouse will go through everything you feel is important so you both feel secure knowing that you are marring the right person.

Dealing with in-laws doesn’t have to be a contentious situation. I can help you learn how to communicate, relate, and remain patient even in the midst of problematic family members.

For more information on premarital counseling, or if you have questions on how to deal with your in-laws, contact me.

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In pre-marital therapy, parenting techniques & roles are discussed openly.

Marriage and parenting can be two of the most rewarding and daunting life events. Some couples may opt for pre-marital therapy, which can allow them to resolve differences and evaluate future plans in a therapeutic environment. Pre-marital counseling can have a multitude of benefits and provide a stable basis for the journey of marriage.

Many topics can be addressed in pre-marital counseling, touching on the key factors that often divide people in a relationship.

Some of these may include finances, conflict resolution techniques, parenting strategies and communication. Even when couples are basking in the joy of a healthy relationship, they can easily forget to clearly define expectations for the relationship and concepts of what the marriage should look like.

Making the transition into being a new parent while balancing the stress of marriage can be difficult. While parenting a child can bring immense joy, it can also be a source of contention in relationships. Differences in parenting styles, financial stress, and unclear parenting roles can all cause excess strain on a marriage. Discussing these potential struggles ahead of time is a proactive way to reduce uncertainty and develop healthy strategies with your spouse.

In counseling, parenting techniques and roles can be discussed openly in a safe, neutral space.

You can work together to cultivate effective communication and compromise on the differences you and your partner may have. With the professional guidance of a licensed counselor, couples can develop adaptive strategies to resolve conflicts and address challenges together with confidence.

Pre-marital therapy offers benefits for every couple, from the strong, healthy relationships, to ones in which you may feel disconnected from your partner. Chana Pfeifer has many years of experience guiding couples and offers pre-marital counseling at a convenient location in West Hempstead, Long Island.

If you and your future spouse are looking to cultivate a strong foundation for a lifelong commitment, don’t hesitate to reach out today.

Guided Meditation before Couples Counseling

Guided Meditation before Couples Counseling with Chana Pfeifer, LCSW in Long Island, NY

One thing that I appreciate about you is….
One thing that I appreciate about me is….

Learn breathwork to slow down the mind before therapy.

Get attuned with your awareness of your emotional state.

Awareness and communication are what makes a connected relationship work. If you feel you are having difficulty communicating with your partner, it would be beneficial to have a therapist guide you in the process. Sometimes, couples become so emotionally disconnected and stuck in negative patterns that it is difficult to talk openly and honestly. If this feels like you, then reaching out to a professional social worker could be a great step toward having a connected relationship.

Chana Pfeifer, LCSW – counseling for couples and individual adults in a safe, supportive place.

For people who have concerns about their upcoming marriage, or want to increase compatibility with their partner, attending couples counseling with Chana Pfeifer can be a very rewarding experience!

Offices in both Cedarhurst & West Hempstead, NY:

422 Berrywood Court West Hempstead, NY 11552
222 Rockaway Avenue Building 1 Cedarhurst, NY 11516

For more info. on couples counseling or guided meditation in Long Island, click here.

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Long Island Marriage Counselor Quoted On Gray Divorce

Chana Pfeifer, licensed social worker in Long Island, New York was recently quoted in a Newsday article titled, “Gray Divorce Opened Up A New Life To These Long Islanders”.

Another chance at a life fulfilled…

Times have changed for couples feeling they need to stay married for better or worse after they reach a certain age.

Chana Pfeifer, a psychotherapist specializing in couples and relationship counseling with offices in West Hempstead and Cedarhurst, said the newest reason some in the 50+ age group have decided to split is the pandemic.

“The pandemic made couples of all ages get closer or exacerbated their misery. It has really forced people to examine their relationships and what they value. For someone older who has been married for decades and decades, there may be more baggage like kids, finances, and history that has to be taken in account when deciding to divorce a longtime spouse, but things CAN be worked out.”

Chana says that it’s important to those who get divorced later in life to remain open to the idea that a fulfilling and wonderful life could be ahead.

It can be an incredible beginning of a new chapter. We only have one life and deserve to live it the best we can be.

To see the full article in Newsday:

https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/gray-divorce-opened-up-a-new-life-to-these-long-islanders-1.50313442