"Although the world is full of suffering,
it is full also of the overcoming of it."
Helen Keller
Psychotherapy
Serving the greater Boston area
Natalie S. Eldridge, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist Provider in Massachusetts
Services
- Individual psychotherapy for adults
- Relationship therapy for couples
- Consultation for mental health professionals & trainees
Clientele
- Adults facing life transitions, either chosen or imposed
- Couples in conflict or seeking to improve communication
- Individuals examining issues of faith or spirituality in their lives
- Individuals grieving significant losses
- Service professionals & trainees with stress or identity concerns
Areas of Specialization
| Anxiety / Fears | Career Development |
| Depression | Identifying Core Strengths |
Grief / Loss |
Insight-Oriented Therapy |
| Identity & Diversity Concerns | Lesbian/Gay Affirmative Therapy |
| Parenting Challenges | Mindfulness Practices |
| Relationship Problems | Positive Psychology |
| Self-Esteem Concerns | Relational/Cultural Therapy |
| Trauma | Wellness Orientation |
Location
Conveniently located in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, my office is easily accessible from the MBTA Green Line. Metered parking is usually available in front of the office building.
Rates
Reasonable, customary fees for self-paying clients |
Current insurance plans accepted: |
Overview
I believe that good psychotherapy involves both the relief of suffering and the nurturing of joy. Working to provide a warm, attentive, and relational psychotherapy environment, I assist clients in deepening their self-understanding, breaking out of hurtful relationship patterns, and developing new modes of thinking, feeling and relating to others. I also collaborate with clients to identify and support their strengths, and to recover and affirm their deepest hopes for their personal, professional and relational lives. By understanding self defeating patterns, and learning how to interrupt them, clients become more skillful in making positive choices. They typically report greater life satisfaction in addition to a reduction in their symptoms of anxiety and depression.
There are many theories and approaches which inform psychotherapy, and I am trained in several of them. I draw primarily upon the theory and practical applications of Relational/Cultural, Psychodynamic (insight-oriented), Cognitive-Behavioral and Buddhist Psychology perspectives. I respect the unique qualities of each psychotherapy relationship, and work from an integrative stance to adjust my skills to the particular needs of each client.
To illustrate briefly, positive changes occur when clients become aware of how past experiences may influence current difficulties (insight-oriented perspective). An understanding of power in relationships, families, and cultures helps clients understand both sources of wounding and isolation, and sources of support and resilience in their lives (relational/cultural perspective). Cognitive behavioral perspectives help clients make specific changes in their current experience and build positive habits for the future. Mindfulness practices, rooted in Buddhist psychology, help clients reduce anxieties while maximizing the capacity to be in the present, where choices are made.
I have experience working with individuals and couples from many ethnic, racial and class backgrounds, and with people of differing ages and sexual orientations. To learn more about me, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will psychotherapy take?
The answer, of course, depends on the nature and extent of your concerns. I provide both short-term and on-going psychotherapy, usually at weekly intervals. I typically see clients for a minimum of three months, and for as long as several years. Lasting behavioral change and emotional healing takes time. However, many clients experience a positive shift in mood when they have a therapeutic relationship and plan in place.
How do I get started in psychotherapy?
Your first step is to to let me know you are interested in psychotherapy. I will get back to you to arrange a telephone call. After a brief conversation by phone, we will schedule a time to meet in my office.
If you plan to use your health insurance to help you pay for therapy sessions, I recommend you contact your insurer at the number on your healthcare card to find out exactly what services they will reimburse. You may need to get an authorization from them prior to our visit, or a referral from your PCP. Also inquire about any limits to the number of sessions or dollar amount your policy will cover. As we work together, I will help you navigate the insurance system. However, an educated consumer can predict and plan her/his treatment most effectively.
What is the difference between coaching and psychotherapy?
In addition to being a psychotherapist, I also provide services as a life coach. While there are some similarities between coaching and psychotherapy, there are major differences between these services. At times, I may use some coaching skills or exercises with a psychotherapy client, but only in the service of the primary psychotherapy goals we have agreed upon. I do not conduct psychotherapy with my coaching clients.
Psychotherapy is a health care service. Its primary focus is to diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders or psychological problems. The goals include alleviating symptoms, understanding personality dynamics, and changing dysfunctional behavior. I am licensed to provide psychotherapy in Massachusetts only. Clients must be able to meet with me in my Brookline office on a regular basis to engage in my psychotherapy services. Psychotherapy is usually reimbursable through your health insurance plan, which will require a diagnosis in order to approve payment for treatment.
Coaching, on the other hand, focuses primarily on your strengths and goals. As a coach, my job is to help you to articulate your strengths, make decisions about what changes or goals you would like to achieve, develop a personal action plan, implement your action plan, and develop strategies to maintain the changes you have made. This work can be done in person or via telephone, allowing me to provide coaching services to many geographic locations. Coaching is not a health care service, and is not reimbursable through health insurance policies.
If you choose to hire me as your coach, and we later find that emotional or behavioral difficulties persist in preventing progress on your coaching action plan, I may suggest that you seek psychotherapy. I will not engage in psychotherapy with my coaching clients, but will be happy to refer you to an appropriate psychotherapist for treatment. For more about coaching, click here.
Links
Tips & Articles on Psychological Issues
American Psychological Association http://www.apahelpcenter.org
About Relational/Cultural Theory
Jean Baker Miller Training Institute http://www.wellesley.edu/JBMTI