Dr. Manuela Maria Menendez - Psychoanalyst & Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Menendez
Dr. Menendez has many years of experience treating mental health issues. It is important to Dr. Menendez that treatment is tailored to each unique individual and their struggle within the context of their cultural, social and ethnic background. Each client is respected for their personal values, beliefs and lifestyle. Individuals, couples and families are referred to Dr. Manuela Menendez for a variety of different reasons with varying degrees of discomfort. Some seek counseling to learn more about themselves in a setting that is non-judgmental, creative and exploratory. They want to have a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships. Others hope psychotherapy will help with their intense feelings of discomfort and pain. They are tired of managing on their own. Some choose treatment because they feel desperate and hopeless. They have tried countless unsuccessful ways to overcome the difficulties in their lives and they feel exhausted, overwhelmed and stuck. Dr. Menendez views the work as a collaboration between patient and therapist. A majority of psychological and physical distress can come from a lack of awareness and understanding of what one is communicating to themselves and others. People continue to find themselves in painful and even dangerous patterns of relating intrapersonally and interpersonally. Dr. Menendez helps find and stop the patterns through a detailed examination of your thoughts, feelings and actions. It is through this understanding that significant and permanent change can happen. Dr. Menendez provides a safe, private and respectful environment where her clients will feel that their needs will be understood, and thoughtfully addressed. The aim of psychotherapy is not merely symptom reduction or removal. Through the use of psychodynamic psychotherapy, patients can reduce and/or eliminate their symptoms or difficulties. Furthermore, the process of psychotherapy builds emotional strength and flexibility. Engaging in psychotherapy should not only reduce or eliminate symptoms or difficulties but also increase one's capacity to deal with future hardships and struggles in life. In this way, successful psychotherapeutic treatment should have life long and far reaching benefits.