Olivia Tjernberg, LMSW
Message from Olivia
I believe the experiences we have in our lives that feel the hardest, can simultaneously promote our greatest life lessons that enable us to grow and make meaningful shifts in how we live our lives. The process of being in therapy is no different. Therapy is a personal experience that often creates discomfort at first, because someone is looking at themselves in a new and different way, yet the effects of greater self-awareness and insight, become far more worthwhile in how one navigates their life. I specialize in working with people that struggle with mood disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders. Beyond individual therapy, I also specialize in psychotherapy with couples and families. Together, we will work on understanding the importance of committing to the therapeutic process, with the understanding that therapy is tough, yet I believe you have the strength inside you to do this hard work. We''ll make sense of your painful personal and interpersonal experiences, whether they are happening in your present life, or in your past, while creating a sense of feeling more grounded in your life, through the use of the therapeutic relationship. I will support you in developing a stronger internal space that fosters feeling safe, and calm within our own body and mind. We'll work to better understand your stressors, memories, life events and internal emotional states that may often feel overwhelming, or overstimulating to you. It is at these times you might find it more difficult to resist engaging in behaviors that cause pain and harm to yourself. We’ll work together in not only understanding why this happens but also in the best ways for you to decrease, and tolerate the intensity of your emotions that create internal and external reactivity. I strive to create an environment of open mindedness, safety and trust, by encouraging my patients to “get curious” about themselves, both in and outside of our sessions together. I believe my role as a therapist is to support my patients to build greater awareness in creating connection and meaning of their internal worlds, to develop more stability and satisfaction in their lives.
About Olivia's practice
Weekdays After 5pm
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
$$
Sliding scale
Directive
Reflective
Body-based
In-person available: Yes
Virtual available: Yes
Personality Disorders
Eating Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Blue Cross Blue Shield BCBS
NY
Why state matters
Get to Know Olivia
What is the best part of the work for you?
The best parts of my work are building strong rapports with clients and establishing trust between one another. Searching for a new therapist is always difficult work for the client, and having the realization that something is "clicking" is always the best part of my day.
How participatory are you during sessions?
In my work with clients, I aim to participate in the forms of asking questions, encouraging you to challenge some of your own ideas or beliefs, and suggesting thoughts or conclusions from my point of view. I have found that engaging in a conversation can often aid in looking at a situation or experience from a different and, perhaps, a more productive perspective.
Do you assign homework, activities, or readings for me to do between sessions? Why or why not?
There may be times that I encourage practicing an activity or skillset outside of the session, and then reviewing what your experience was and whether it was helpful.
How much do you share about yourself during our time together and why?
I believe that sharing, when done appropriately and in moderation, can be helpful in normalizing experiences, thoughts, and feelings, in addition to strengthening the therapeutic relationship.
From your perspective, what is therapy?
Therapy is a means to build a greater understanding of your life experiences and how they have impacted you. Therapy is also a way to establish more meaningful relationships in your life and identify any repairs that can be made.