Jill Edelman, M.S.W, L.C.S.W.

After three decades of professional experience as a psychotherapist and couples therapist, an M.S.W. in clinical social work, and four years training in psychoanalysis, family systems training, and couples training, I have developed an approach to individual and couples work that utilizes deep listening skills melded together with strategic and problem solving techniques.

My philosophy, garnered from decades of study and careful listening to clients, provides a collaborative approach wherein the couple and the therapist work as a team of three to unravel the injurious patterns of behavior in the relationship, understand the historic roots and, by doing so, reduce the shame that is often lying beneath the surface behaviors.

By normalizing and humanizing underlying feelings, clients feel safer sharing with each other and truly opening themselves up to the other’s experience. They experience true emotional parity in the relationship and recognize that greater than the need to be right is the need to be honest and close.

Other family members or extended network, who may at times be a crucial part of the couple’s recovery, will be invited by the couple to come in as well. However, the work is primarily to build a strong bond between the partners to help them address issues of family and work life better, together, with the knowledge that the foundation of the relationship is strong.

Over time, as the anger and hurt subsides, couples learn to be friends again or for the first time, remember and renew or discover what they can enjoy together, and begin to seek out each other’s company for true companionship, not just for the business of running a family or having sex.

This new found or rediscovered delight in each other will last a lifetime.

©jill edelman, L.C.S.W. M.S.W.