Helen Graf, MSW, LCSW

Helen Graf is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with extensive experience in treating individuals and couples. She has been an associate of Dr. Reiken’s for 13 years.  Helen has completed three years of postgraduate training in Accelerated Empathic Therapy (AET) at St. Clare’s Hospital.  She has also trained at the Ackerman Institute for the Family and at The Albert Ellis Institute in NYC.  In addition, she has a Hypnotherapy Certification from The Wellness Institute and has completed The Mentor-Coach™ Training Program Foundations.

Helen is an advocate of short-term therapy.  Patients have benefited from her cognitive behavioral approach developed by the world renowned Albert Ellis, in which many strongly held beliefs are seen as irrational and are replaced by more rational beliefs. This shift alleviates a great deal of anxiety, depression, self doubt, anger and suffering for the individual as well as their significant others.

She utilizes an empathic approach to people and their feelings.  She finds this aides in promoting feelings of self-worth and value where once there was despair and hopelessness. Too many of us, she finds, have been told for a lifetime of our faults and shortcomings rather than our strengths and assets.  Her warmth and caring are special attributes she brings to her practice.

Helen is trained in hypnotherapy and incorporates it in her practice especially for relaxation.  She teaches her patients to do self hypnosis giving them greater control in life.  She finds Dr. Herbert Benson’s, the renowned cardiologist’s “relaxation response” another useful tool which patients can utilize on their own, at home or in the workplace. 
Helen, a registered pharmacist, works with psychopharmacologists, to help monitor the response to medication and treatment when required.

Areas of focus in Helen’s practice include: treating depression, anxiety, phobias and relationship difficulties. She also teaches assertiveness training, often an area of special interest for women.  Coaching clients to explore new possibilities and be accountable for keeping their word is one of her passions.

Helen strongly believes that making a call to a therapist takes courage.  As she says,

Meet the Practice:

• Dr. Sandi Reiken, MSW, Ph.D.
• Dr. Susan Hirsh Prager, Ph.D.
• Helen Graf, MSW, LCSW
• Anne Effron, MSW, LCSW, BCD
• Julie Powell, MSW, LCSW
• Christine Jeffrey, MSW, LCSW
• Richard DiStaulo, LCSW, LCADC
• Rachel Krupnick, MSW, LSW
• Dara Mastro, MA, LPC, BCPC