licensed clinical social worker Archives ⋆ Chana Pfeifer

Marriage Counselor in Nassau County, NY

Chana Pfeifer, LCSW, Marriage Counselor Nassau County, NY – seeing individuals and pairs in her office in Long Island, New York. She uses techniques from Imago Relationship Therapy, developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt in 1980.

Imago is a form of relationship / couples therapy that focuses on transforming conflict into healing and growth through relational connection.

Through Imago Relationship Therapy, couples can understand each other’s feelings and “childhood wounds” more empathically, allowing them to heal themselves and their relationships and move toward a more conscious relationship.

Get marriage counseling in Nassau County, NY while staying connected.

Learn how to connect through differences and become more present in all of your relationships, not just your marriage.

Chana has been in the field for over 25 years & LOVEs what she does.

As a certified Imago Therapist and licensed clinical social worker, she helps couples and individuals work to establish new, healthy patterns, and break long-standing dysfunctional patterns.

“I encourage owning responsibility in life and take a holistic approach. My practice is solution-based; I give life-changing tools leading to eventual independence.

My specialty is in relationships.

I deal with many different people, couples’ challenging relationships, separation, blended families and geriatrics. I use practical tools so couples can communicate effectively, whether they stay together or not. I feel the variety of many issues keeps my skills as a licensed clinical social worker sharp.”

Chana Pfeifer is currently seeing clients through telehealth virtual platforms and in-person (socially-distanced) at her West Hempstead, NY office.

Domestic violence is on the rise in Nassau County, NY

Chana Pfeifer quoted in article, Domestic violence on the rise in Nassau County, NY by Ahjané Forbes

With more couples staying home because of Covid-19, domestic violence reports have risen.

In 2020, there were over 13,000 reports of domestic violence filed with the Nassau County Police Department, which was slightly higher than 2019, according to The Safe Center, an organization that provides services to abuse victims.

According to reports from the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, there were nearly 106,000 intimate partner-related domestic violence incidents in New York City in 2020. The majority of the reports were filed by women of color, with Black women being the highest victims to report, followed by Hispanics as the second, according to ENDGBV.

Although the number of chronic domestic violence complaints has deceased by 328 from 2019 to 2020 in New York City, according to the NYPD, the number of domestic violence complaints on Long Island rose during the same time period. In Nassau, there were 130 cases of domestic violence reported in 2020 than 2019, according to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

The director of education at The Safe Center, Keith Scott, said the numbers do not accurately reflect all cases of domestic violence during the pandemic. Scott said he believes many abuse victims have not reported their abusers.

“Less reports have been made because people are fearful for their lives,” Scott said. “If they make a report and their abuser is standing right next to them, what’s going to happen?”

A recent case of domestic violence gained national media coverage after Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito from Blue Point, Long Island, went missing while on a four month road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. On Sept. 11, Nicole Schmidt, Petito’s mother, filed a missing person’s report with the Suffolk County Police Department after not hearing from her daughter for nearly two weeks. Petito’s death was ruled a homicide.

“It’s a terrible reminder that the signs of domestic abuse can be difficult to spot on the surface,” said New York State Sen. Anna Kaplan, a Democrat from North Hills, who has sponsored many bills on domestic violence. “It’s so important for everyone to learn how to spot the signs and know what to do to take action,” she said. Additionally, Kaplan said she hopes people become aware of unspoken cues of abuse, especially on social media, like in the Petito case. Kaplan said victims often have trouble speaking up and asking for legal protections.

In October, Kaplan talked about the Petito case in “Virtual Domestic Violence Training” in partnership with The Safe Center. Formerly known as the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Coalition Against Child Abuse, Neglect and Domestic Violence, The Bethpage-based Safe Center changed its name in 2014. It serves 30,000 families through its education department.

“The Safe Center is the primary agency in Nassau County servicing all victims of abuse,” Scott said, “whether that abuse comes from domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse or elder abuse.” The organization has a 24-hour hotline that abuse victims can call if they need help. From there, The Safe Center will assess each individual situation. Victims can request services like emergency housing for their families and themselves. “We can help someone within our shelters to provide stipends to them for rental assistance if they are fleeing an abuser and trying to get back on their feet,” Scott said.

Now that vaccines are available, Chana Pfeifer, a clinical therapist in West Hempstead, prefers to see her clients in person.

Pfeifer offers this advice to family members and friends who want to help someone who is experiencing domestic violence:

“Try to find a safe place to communicate with the person who is experiencing that and ask. A lot of times we dance around it and we don’t touch it. That could be so dangerous,” Pfeifer said.

“Say, ‘I’m really worried about you. Is there something I could do to help? Are you being emotionally or physically abused’?”

Pfeifer said the pandemic has caused domestic disputes to rise because of couples spending more time together.

“Most of us therapists are inundated. I don’t even have room for the new calls that I got recently. I’ve never been this busy in my entire life,” Pfeifer said. “It doesn’t feel good. It feels like people have more needs. This pandemic has been so long, and it has had a lot of negative effects on people.”

Original article here.

Mental Health Counseling for Teenagers

The teenage phase is one of the most confusing phases of one’s life. Hormones are rushing, your body is drastically changing, and your emotions are all over the place. It’s normal to go through an identity crisis of sorts and get into experimenting. Teenage years are a time when we start to define who we are, our thoughts, our likes/dislikes, the set of beliefs we have, and what we want to be later in life. This can often lead to negative body image, low self-esteem, eating disorders, anxiety and even substance abuse issues.

There’s many reasons why parents seek out mental health counseling for teenagers.

Anger Management: Anger is a natural emotion. While getting angry is normal, getting into a rage is not. If anger is expressed violently, it is a matter of concern. Anger management techniques can help your kid control their temper. Counselling can significantly help your kid’s anger problems. Therapists can also show kids practical coping skills to use when they experience anger.

Depression: Mood swings are common in teenagers but mood disorders are cautionary. These can often be indicators of underlying conditions such as depression. If your kid seems sad, easily irritated or withdrawn, ask if seeing a counselor would help.

Anxiety: Anxiety can often be a result of academic pressure, peer pressure, and so on. Although some teenagers experience extreme anxiety, these indicators should not be ignored, especially during a global pandemic.

Stress: During this stressful time of lockdown, no one is immune to it. Therapy can help teenagers (and adults alike) reduce their stress levels without losing their productivity.

Low self-esteem: It’s common to experience low self-esteem, but some can experience serious low self-esteem issues, especially driven from social media and the endless supply of triggering images. When such problems are left unaddressed, teens are can be exposed to issues such as substance abuse, body dysmorphic disorder, etc.

Trauma: Abuse, violence, near-death experiences, severe injury, or losing a loved one can have a lifelong impact on teens. These traumatic events can affect them and hold them back. Intervention in the early stages can help teens recover from the trauma in the healthiest way possible.

A licensed clinical social worker can help your teenager if they are suffering from any type of mental health issue. Contact Chana for additional information on counseling for teenagers.

Chana is seeing teenagers virtually and in-person, socially-distanced & masked.

Counseling for Postpartum Depression

The birth of a child is a major life event usually associated with feelings of happiness and joy. Unfortunately, the stress of carrying and giving birth can also cause a variety of mood-related factors that can significantly affect one’s mental health, such as postpartum depression.

There is not one specific cause for postpartum depression. The emotional, psychological, and physical stress of childbirth are thought to be contributing factors. Rapid fluctuations of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone can cause mood changes. Additionally, sleep deprivation after giving birth can leave a woman feeling exhausted.

Symptoms of depression with peripartum onset can occur before, during, or after delivery and can last from around two weeks to months or years if not treated properly.

Some may experience symptoms in slightly different forms, however the main symptoms include:

Low or unstable mood
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, agitation
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Feeling emotionally numb or detached
Difficulty forming a bond with your baby
Anxiety or fear related to your ability to care for the child
Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, low self-worth
Significant weight changes, loss or increase of appetite
Decreased motivation, lack of energy, fatigue
Sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or not enough (insomnia)
Reduced abilities or desire to care for oneself or the baby
Withdrawing from others
Inability to concentrate, make decisions
Thoughts of harming yourself, your baby, or others

The likelihood of developing postpartum depression can be increased due to certain risk factors. A previous history of depression or anxiety, life-related factors such as stress, and lack of support from others can all be integral to the psychological well-being of the mother. Trauma related to giving birth, emergency procedures, or a history of abuse can also be risk factors in developing symptoms.

Treatment for postpartum depression can vary based on the individual’s needs. Counseling is a great asset for those struggling with its symptoms. Common routes of therapy for postpartum depression can include cognitive behavioral therapy and talk therapy.

Counseling is available to help you move forward in life with a renewed sense of strength and overall well-being. A licensed therapist like Chana can help you understand the condition and the factors surrounding it, so that you can more easily manage your symptoms and develop coping skills. Therapy can provide a welcoming environment in which to express your feelings and frustrations while helping you to embrace your true self-worth and confidence.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a licensed therapist if you are experiencing symptoms of depression.