Hollis Greenspan, MSW, LICSW

Hello, I'm Hollis Greenspan, a licensed independent clinical social worker. Welcome to my profile page!

By choosing to enter into therapy, you've taken the first step towards self-empowerment and making positive life changes.

Change is a strange thing. Sometimes, the things that aren't working in our lives require altering something that we'd prefer not to let go of. Very often it's an idea or perception that needs to be released, and it's important to gain an awareness of the thoughts that maintain troublesome behaviors.

As an advanced graduate of a transformation-oriented counseling program, I have gained skill in helping people to release stuck patterns of thinking and behavior. I primarily use Mindfulness, a form of thought reframing called "Reality Therapy", Focusing, and Psychosynthesis counseling to assist clients.

Let me tell you a little about these latter two techniques. Focusing is a body-oriented practice that you can learn to do for yourself. It involves tuning in to deep levels of bodily sensations and accurately naming them, familiarizing yourself with a felt sense of the problem areas. Psychosynthesis is the foundation of a newly popular modality called "Internal Family Systems" therapy. The goal is to become aware of different, sometimes conflicting parts of your personality, to help them communicate and cooperate with each other. All parts of the personality are seen as having value, and this leads to acceptance of your self as a whole and diverse being.

I have worked with people from all walks of life, different ethnicities and cultures, and make room for everyone's point of view. My practice is grounded in Buddhist philosophy, but I don't push anyone to learn or practice that particular view of reality.

Here's the nitty gritty: I have a degree in cultural anthropology from Tufts University, a master's in social work from the University of Connecticut, and an advanced certification in counseling from The Synthesis Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. I have a special interest and many years of study in self-care, including nutrition, sleep hygiene, and other ways of embodying wellness.

Other areas of interest and expertise: Body dysmorphia, aging, creative blocks and perfectionism, death and dying, career choices and difficulties, pet loss, existential crisis, gender identity.

My experience working with depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, chronic illness, grief and loss, relationship problems, personality issues, and LGBTQ issues is extensive.

I approach psychotherapy with humor, love, and compassion. You are in the driver's seat, and self-empowerment is the ultimate goal. You will find me open-minded, caring, gentle, and flexible.

I look forward to meeting you.