About Tetty Gorfine
I have been a psychotherapist for more than 35 years and in the last years my work has expanded (no pun intended) towards the spiritual. This work has been one of the blessings of my life. I have been given the opportunity to be a part of other people’s journeys towards wholeness and healing.
I began my career as an individual, couples and group therapist. I founded and directed a community counseling center for many years, providing groups, classes, workshops and conferences on many different mental health topics.
Mid-career I was fortunate to work with a Deaf couple, spearing my passion for ASL and Deaf culture, and have continued working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. I have also worked extensively with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer clients. I have supervised and trained therapists and consulted to several groups and organizations. I have completed Smith School for Social Work’s program in End of Life Care. This, as well as bereavement, have also become compelling areas for me.
I have had the privilege of working with people autism and neurodivergence. I am deeply inspired and hold great respect for the brilliance and talent of these folks.
Over the last years my own spiritual practice has blossomed and I have come to see we humans as divine beings with more capacity than we can know.
My career keeps bringing me so many different types of people! For this I am so grateful.
SOME ON HOW I WORK
As a psychotherapist, and spiritual guide I see myself as an active participant in your growth and healing. I do not sit back and just listen. I help bring perspective and encourage you to consider things differently. I also help you find more caring ways of viewing and being with yourself and others. I encourage an open heart since this is the most direct path to healing, peace and love. There is no place for judgment and ridicule in this process. It is antithetical to healing.
I see every therapeutic relationship as unique. I do not try to fit you into a technique. You and I partner to find the best ways to work with your particular situation, feelings, stumbling blocks and dreams.
People often ask what my approach is. This has become a very difficult question. Since every person is different, what is called upon is different. That said, I do believe that our childhoods, societal values and world trauma has a great influence upon our lives. Understanding our injuries is important. Using our relationship as a mirror for understanding and helping repair injuries caused by past relationships can have great value. Cultivating emotional access to yourself (knowing what you feel and why) is essential, as well as is finding positive ways to regulate emotions (learning ways to calm). I also focus on compassionate ways to understand and work with any parts of yourself that feel unlovable, unsafe and ashamed. Awareness is a crucial for healing. This work is multifaceted and is based on your unique needs. I am not a managed care therapist. I do not agree with giving a standard amount of treatment in a standardized manner. I believe that you should determine your goals and the scope of your work. My goal is to follow your lead; learning together what helps you grow. Together we collaborate to find what works and what heals.