My name is Jason Goldstein and I welcome you to my psychotherapy practice. Therapy is an opportunity for me to be a source of comfort and support whether it be to relieve you of pain and suffering and/or to promote growth and change. It is my hope that I might be able to assist you in providing the help you need. As a new client considering psychotherapy for yourself or for your child, you have the right to know something about my background and qualifications, and to know what to expect from our work together. If, after reading this introduction, you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask them. 

I am a mental health counselor with a license to practice in the State of Washington since 2008. I currently provide psychological services for Gilda's Club and work as an associate at For A Child where I have my private practice. Prior to this time, I have been providing therapy to a diverse range of clients in hospitals, community mental health clinics, wellness centers, and child development agencies. I completed my Masters Degree in Social Work from Columbia University in New York City and received my Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Washington School of Professional Psychology in Seattle. I belong to the National Association of Social Workers and am credentialed and licensed by the Washington State Department of Health (LH 00011307).

My theoretical orientation can be considered integrative since I borrow from a combination of several different therapeutic approaches. I have had considerable training and experience in psychodynamic, humanistic-existential, and family systems models of treatment. I use these ideas to help guide the treatment process and work within the context of a safe, empathic therapeutic environment. With adults, this means that psychotherapy typically involves exploring feelings, perceptions, and beliefs about oneself and others, understanding how and why self-defeating or painful patterns of living have developed, and discovering how to go about modifying them. I am committed to helping you discover and speak the truth of your experience, including those parts of you that may have been left unrecognized, unspoken, and unlived. 

With children and adolescents, different strategies may be used to make treatment gains. For adolescents, the therapy may include more experiential learning activities to evoke and explore emotions.  With children, psychotherapy may often involve communicating through play, art, and other creative activity to help the child manage difficult feelings and situations. For both the child and adolescent client, therapy usually involves conjoint counseling with the family, parents or caregivers in terms of formulating goals. In this way, the child or adolescent can be seen within the context of the family system where the work of therapy can help to foster a healing dialogue. 

As we work together, it is important that we have a mutual understanding of what our goals are and how well we are proceeding toward them. With clients of all ages, some problems can be solved relatively quickly while other may require months or years. However our work unfolds, there is a good chance that we will encounter times when you feel frustrated or dissatisfied with me and with the work. It is very important at these times that we discuss your feelings and perceptions and attempt to understand and resolve them. This can be a crucially important and valuable part of our work together. There will probably also come a time when you feel that you have gotten all that you can from your therapy. When you decide to end your therapy, it will be important that we discuss that, too, and take the time to review what we have accomplished and anticipate what might lie ahead for you.

It is my belief that when people become informed consumers regarding mental health and available counseling or psychotherapy services, obtaining proper treatment is much more likely. As an informed consumer, it is your right and responsibility to choose the therapist and therapeutic approach best suited to your needs. In the course of my work as a mental health counselor, I have often been gratified to see clients benefit from the process of therapy. Of course, the effectiveness of therapy depends to a large degree on how much we are able to talk about your reactions and questions concerning the work we do, as well as your ability to take in new information that may challenge your own understanding of an issue or conflict. I will never require you to do anything against your wishes but may encourage you to do so only with your best interests in mind. It is my duty and professional interest to provide you with the best possible care. 

Please communicate with me if I can be of service to you by clicking on the contact link.