Alyssa Siegel, LPC

10/05/2022

I was interviewed earlier this year on the mental health impact of covid. Here’s the article!

The individual and collective effects of the pandemic are likely to be with us for a long time to come. There are ways to help each other.

10/05/2022

10/03/2022

Well hello! My goodness it’s been a while 😊

Here’s an interview I had the pleasure of doing recently for Monument, an online platform for those looking to change their relationship to alcohol.

Whether you’re in the dating game, in a dedicated long-term partnership, or somewhere in between, your relationship with alcohol can have a significant impac...

04/12/2022

09/11/2020

Time for a more personal check in.

Hi folx. How are you all?

It's a hard question to answer right now, isn't it?

These are extraordinary times. I cannot remember a time when we were facing so many collective and personal challenges and traumas. If you are exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and/or feeling pretty hopeless, you are not alone. Our nervous systems are doing exactly what they are supposed to; alerting us to danger and staying vigilant. And that's hard to sustain for the amount of time we have had to. The inevitable result is depletion.

So what to do? It's hard right now to think about self care. If feels indulgent, like a luxury. But the truth is, we cannot do this if we are not taking care of ourselves. Giving our systems a break doesn't mean you are avoiding the problem. It isn't irresponsible. It's necessary.

Self care means something different for each of us. Maybe it's getting more rest or more exercise. Maybe it's connecting with others however we can safely do so. Maybe it's taking deep breaths and drinking more water. Whatever it is for you, do it and do it often.

We are resilient. Even when it feels like we can't keep going, we do. Even in the darkest of times there is learning, growth, and beauty. Find it. Savor it. And hold it close as you continue on.

It's been hard to find much to love about teletherapy but here's what I do. I love seeing your faces. And I love seeing your babies and your animals and your art and your crafts and yes, your messy houses. It's a gift and honor to have this invitation into your homes and lives and I'm grateful for it.

I'm here. We are in this together. And we can and will get through this.

09/08/2020

https://www.self.com/story/normalize-mental-health-conversations

It’s way past time.

06/10/2020

Therapy is political. It is radical. It is first and foremost about change.

Thank you to my clients for showing up to the conversation. For sitting with hard, painful, deeply uncomfortable feelings around racial (in)justice and white privilege.

I promise to continue to learn and listen and to support you on your journey as you do the same.

05/01/2020

Clients!!

I went into my office today after weeks away to pick up mail and gosh did it bring up feelings!

I have so loved seeing your faces online and am super grateful we can still meet that way but I sure do miss being with you in person ❤️

04/04/2020

To acknowledge it:`
Here are some of the many things people are grieving right now. It's okay to struggle with these things.
-Loss of autonomy
-Loss of privacy
-Loss of freedom
-Loss of choice
-Loss of touch
-Loneliness
-Loss of community
-Loss of structure
-Loss of predictability
-Loss of having things to look forward to
-Loss of employment and the sense of purpose and meaning it can provide
-No longer be able to work free from noise and distraction
-Loss of financial stability
-Absence of play
-Lack of joy
-Lack of spaciousness

I've heard a lot of people calling this period "downtime". And I want to state this clearly for those of you who feel guilty, sad, frustrated or confused about why you don't feel creative or productive.

For ALL of us, we are trying to survive. Experiencing a crisis that puts our system into survival mode is not a time that we are capable of or physiologically equipped to extend ourselves beyond what is necessary.

If you are doing creative and productive things, that is awesome. Your mental and emotional well being thank you for it. But if you aren't, it's okay. You don't need to come out of this a "better" person. You just need to come out of it alive when it's over.

Additionally, MOST people don't have the physical ability or privilege to engage in self care right now. You are trying to do your job or trying to teach or parent your kids and trying to keep a house with people living in it 24/7 from imploding into a disaster bomb.

Just get through it. That's all that can be asked of you. You cannot bring your A game to anything right now. Be gentle and kind and patient and forgiving with yourself.

03/15/2020

Mental health during a pandemic. We are all navigating uncharted waters here. And I'd like to share a bit about what I've learned from talking to clients about what's going on.

There is no right or wrong way to feel about this. I've talked to people who are overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. And I've talked to people that are taking new precautions but otherwise going on with life as normal, seemingly emotionally unaffected. Whatever your experience, it's okay. It's yours. Just as people have varying responses to grief, so do we to uncertainty. Now is a good time to really practice your self soothing skills. What makes you feel grounded? Try deep breathing, yoga, journaling, playing music, talking to friends on the phone, taking a walk or hike, cooking or baking. When we feel scared or confused we tend to seek information. And while it is important to stay apprised of current findings and recommendations it’s also important to take breaks from the news and social media to give your nervous system time to calm and reset.

While some couples and families really come together in times of crisis, others find that the stress can turn them against one another. If this is you, acknowledge what is happening. Speak to the fear, rather than allowing it to translate into anger or irritability, which pushes people away rather than bringing them close. What most of us need right now is connection.

Social distancing, though it implies isolation, is a beautiful way to show solidarity. Remember that by doing so we are taking care of each other.

Those I see faring best right now are those who are balancing both taking care of themselves and contributing to the larger community. All of that anxiety bouncing around in our system needs a place to go. Taking action by supporting local small businesses by buying gift certificates, preparing boxes of food or goods to be dropped off at shelters or with your elderly neighbors, writing letters to those quarantined who cannot have visitors are all great ways to help.

The direct impact on each of us varies. For service industry workers, having the shop or restaurant they work at close means they can't pay their rent. For those with children, school closures may mean they cannot go into work and are losing necessary income to support their families. Please consider in these times those who may need extra help or resources.

Thank you for all that you do and all that you are and all of the ways you show up for one another. I'm here. Don't hesitate to reach out.

03/14/2020

Hello again!

I hope that all of you are safe and well during these strange and turbulent times. Please stay connected to your communities, even remotely. We need each other more than ever right now.

As of today I will be in the office for appointments but it's likely that I will be transitioning my sessions soon to the HIPPA compliant platform Doxy.me. Most insurance plans cover telehealth but please feel free to reach out to me if you'd like me to check yours.

Sending love and support

03/01/2020

A note on health in light of the Coronavirus.

To protect our medically fragile clients and minimize the spread of illness, our clinic is requesting the following:

1.Please do not attend sessions if you or someone in your household is sick. Most of us are able to provide telehealth, i.e. we can have phone or online sessions in lieu of in person sessions.
2.Please wash your hands before entering the office.
3.Please bring your own water bottles and coffee/tea mugs.

Thanks so much for your understanding and cooperation.

02/26/2020

Good morning!

A note about counseling and scheduling.

I am currently running about 2 months out. That means that all of my available appointments are booked for the next two months. I do get cancellations and I do have a wait list for current clients who would like to be notified should someone cancel sooner than their next scheduled session.

What that means is that when it comes to scheduling counseling appointments, being proactive is best! I use an online scheduling system for current clients both to empower you to take charge of your own appointments and because I simply can't keep up with the scheduling changes and needs involved with working with a high number of clients.

I understand that it can be incredibly frustrating to have to wait so long to see a counselor when you have decided to see one. My advice here would be to not wait to book with a provider until your mental health is really suffering or your relationship is in crisis. Wellness is a lot about prevention and maintenance. Of course there are absolutely issues that one cannot predict that will arise in life. But having a counselor you have an established relationship with already when they do can make all the difference. Also, you can always cancel your appointments with 24 hours notice should you not find them needed or should you have found someone else who can see you sooner in the meantime!!

02/09/2020

Schedule Update!

Starting in April my schedule will be the following:

Mondays 10-3
Tuesdays 10-6
Wednesdays not in office
Thursdays 10-3
Fridays 10-6
Every other Satruday 10-3
Sundays not in office

I understand that this is a change and will disrupt some of our regularly scheduled meeting times. My sincere apologies for the inconvenience. I will do my best to provide as much consistency of care of possible through this transition.

01/23/2020

Hello! A notice about the direction of my practice. After much consideration I have made the decision to no longer accept new clients for individual work. If you are a current individual client, don't worry! We can still work together. And I value you deeply.

After many years now in this field it has become clear to me that my skill set and passion is strongest in couples work. And while there are many wonderful counselors out there for individual work, couples counselors who really love the work are a little harder to come by. And I do! I love couples work. And because it's where I thrive as a provider, I want to make sure that I focus my practice on the fit that is right both for prospective clients and for myself in order to make the work most sustainable, effective, and rewarding.

I'm currently accepting new couples for March.

Thank you all for your understanding and support. I learn so much from you and look forward to continuing on the relational journey together.