LEE D. KASSAN, M.A.
Licensed psychoanalyst
Licensed mental health counselor
Certified group psychotherapist
What is psychotherapy? And why would you want it?
Psychotherapy is a process in which we explore who you are: what you believe, how you make choices, what you want in life and the actions you take to get it. In many ways, therapy is an exercise in raising awareness, so that what you feel and how you act are more conscious, which gives you more control.

People usually start therapy when their lives have become too difficult, too painful, too frustrating. They begin to realize that perhaps their own thinking and behavior are part of the problem. In my office, meeting once a week, we explore the past and the present to uncover what those beliefs and behaviors might be.

Right now, the field of psychotherapy is dominated by the psychiatric model, which looks at people in terms of illness and disorder, with symptoms, treatment, and cure. Fortunately, this is not the only way of thinking about human behavior and the challenges of daily life. For me, psychotherapy is a process of self-discovery. I'm always interested and curious about how people make the choices they make, and I try to create a deep and lasting curiosity in my clients about themselves. "I wonder why I do that?" is a very powerful question to ask yourself, and a good psychotherapist can help you find the answer.

I've been a psychotherapist since 1980. As a Licensed Psychoanalyst, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Certified Group Psychotherapist, I work with individuals, groups, and couples. I specialize in couple therapy and in working with creative people, including actors, musicians, and writers. After years of study and practice, I wrote several books about the field of psychotherapy, and currently serve as Editor of the professional journal GROUP. In November 2016 I was made a Life Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association