ARAM JIBILIAN PSYCHOTHERAPY
ABOUT ME
I am an Armenian-American gay man who has been a New Yorker for almost two decades. My life path has provided me opportunities to travel and work with people from various backgrounds and identities. In addition to my studies in psychology and social work, I practice other disciplines including art, dance & performance, and spirituality.
I provide individual counseling to adults and adolescents, as well as couples counseling. My experience includes helping people navigate and overcome a number of life challenges such as depression, anxiety, inattention, addiction, trauma, life transitions, and relational conflict. I am a NY State licensed clinical social worker (license #086669-1) who graduated with a clinical practice focus from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. I have practiced in a number of outpatient and residential settings, and am extensively trained in delivering affirming care to the LGBTQIA population for almost a decade. My social work training informs my anti-oppressive and client-centered approach as well as my respect for each individual’s experience, resilience, and wisdom.
Thank you for visiting. If you would like more information or to determine if we might be a good fit, please call me to set up a free phone consultation.
ABOUT THERAPY
People often seek help when things begin to feel like too much. Perhaps ways in which we have learned to cope stop working, or maybe recent life circumstances have just begun to feel overwhelming and we don’t know where else to turn. Anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, addiction, relational conflict and lack of motivation are often target issues people present with in therapy. Although these are common problems that many of us will confront at some point in our lives, the way in which they manifest in our individual lives is unique and singular; what worked for someone else, may not work for us. Our work will provide a non-judgmental, accepting and affirming space for you to safely explore your thoughts and feelings, to learn more effective ways to cope and to step more firmly into your life. Through our unique therapeutic alliance, we will develop strategies based on various modalities, including Mindfulness Practices and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which have proven to be successful in bringing positive change. Together we will create a picture of what a meaningful life looks like for you and we will work together to manifest it into reality.
SERVICES PROVIDED
I work with clients around a variety of concerns, including:
Anxiety & stress
Sadness & depression
Gender identity
Sexuality
Addiction & recovery
Attention issues
Trauma
Grief & loss
Relationship issues
Family conflict
HIV/AIDS
Asylum & immigration
Career goals
Life transitions
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
A Therapeutic Alliance
Our work together will aim towards building on your existing strengths, which will serve as our main tools in addressing certain challenges. We will focus on the solutions to these concerns so that you can begin to bring the change into your life that you are seeking. Change and healing can be messy, and sometimes painful. You will not always leave therapy “feeling good,” but through our process of working together, you will begin to establish a healthier connection with yourself and those around you. I work within a CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) frame, which acknowledges the strong connections within the triad of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By learning mindfulness techniques, you will build awareness and acceptance around these thoughts and feelings and learn ways to cope with them. Sometimes there will be homework assignments that often include some writing and reflection. These are designed to continue and expand on our work together outside of regular sessions. The effectiveness of therapy is often based on the quality of the connection between therapist and client. To that end, our work is relational and we may spend time discussing aspects of our therapeutic alliance.
COUPLES THERAPY
The Relational Entity
My work with those who are partnered (most often couples, but sometimes larger groups of folks) revolves around the notion that there are multiple realities within a relationship - the separate realities of the individuals plus the reality of the relational entity. Through our work together, we will closely explore the shared relational entity within which each partner has taken a distinct role. By beginning to bring language to this entity, we can slowly begin to see the gaps that might be causing dissonance and pain. Just as in my individual work with clients, there will often be homework that will require the equal participation of each partner. These assignments are meant to challenge individuals to take new actions, which will then begin to alter the reality of the relationship and bring it to a place that is more satisfying and fulfilling. When new problems or issues arise, partners will be able to rely on the new techniques and language to bring meaning into the disagreements instead of reacting to them as they previously had. Through this new shared vocabulary, the couple will begin to engage in new ways that fosters a deeper connection and understanding.
LGBTQIA
Exploring Individual Identities
As both a cisgender gay man and a therapist who has worked with lesbian, gay, gender non-conforming, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) folks for many years, I have learned the importance of providing individuals the space to define their own identities. Some people choose to identify in certain ways, and others choose to never identify. Through the course of our work together, you may discover aspects of yourself you had not been in touch with for many years, or that you did not even know existed. Many of us have suppressed or repressed our desires due to the painful effects of living in unaccepting societies and experiencing trauma. Some of us learned that in order to survive, we needed to produce an inauthentic self that would be acceptable and not rejected. What we did not know at the time, is that authenticity is the kernel of our lives and the closer we get to it and live in it the more we will be able to love ourselves, enjoy our lives, and be present with those around us. Our work together will begin wherever you are on this journey.
CONTACT ME
Address:
138 W. 25th Street
10th floor
New York, NY 10001
Email:
Phone:
☎ 646-543-8676