Hayashi, Gina PHD

After graduating from Cornell, I received a full scholarship to study at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There, I received extensive training in the theory and practice of long-term psychotherapy. I then completed a two year psychology internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School ('95-'97).

So much of being a therapist is about knowing how to really listen, and to listen well. This means being able to hear you without judgment. It means conveying that I can hear the depths of profound pain or anxiety without becoming swept away by it. I reflect deeply on what I'm being told in this privileged conversation and share these reflections with you.

First sessions are often difficult and stressful, and knowing what to expect can help. We typically meet for 60 minutes for the first meeting. I will ask you what made you decide to come in for an appointment. You then let me know. It's all right not to have full and complete answers. I will be asking you questions and I encourage you to ask me questions as well.

Feeling anguish unless you've performed compulsive rituals like counting stairs or re-checking if a door is locked. Physical manifestations in our bodies of the "fight-or-flight response, " such as a racing heart or churning stomach. Because anxiety manifests so broadly, I take the time to understand what type of anxiety you're experiencing.

In therapy, we explore what you want and need from a romantic partner. We also co-define what a healthy relationship looks and feels like, and work on how to recognize an unhealthy relationship early on. We all have strengths and weaknesses that we bring to a relationship. In therapy, we identify your particular strengths and weaknesses.