Jon Krigel Psy.D.

When clients enter my office for the first time, my goal is to understand them as much as they initially feel comfortable being known. To this end, I allow space for the client to speak openly about his or her history, relationships, aspirations, challenges, and everything in between. When clients are hesitant or reticent with their disclosures; my interpersonal, friendly, and warm approach helps facilitate further conversation and emotional openness.

After I have a better sense of why the client has sought therapy, I work with him or her to understand what kind of therapy might be most beneficial. I typically use a psychodynamic approach that aids in exploration, support, and safety. Contrary to some classical interpretations of psychoanalysis, I am not passive or silent. Clients know that I am in the room with them and a sense of collaborative participation is cultivated and encouraged. Some clients require or request more behavioral techniques and, while I do not often give homework or work from a manual, I am flexible, and do occasionally work to develop skills or coping mechanisms that can be used to better function in the external world.

My clinical specialties include working with clients who suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, and the challenges that come with diagnoses of personality or autism disorders. No matter what a client’s reason is for seeking help, I believe that the quality of my relationship with the client is the most important aspect of his or her therapy. When a client feels cared for he or she is more likely to open up, and I am comfortable sitting with whatever pace is optimal for the client. In other words, I see no reason for, nor do I require, early disclosures, particularly when a client has had historical difficulty with intimacy or forming attachments.

In addition to the specialties stated above, I also enjoy working with individuals who are addicted to video games, computers, pornography, or cell phones. In my mind, these addictions should be taken seriously, respectfully, and individually. These issues are unlike others and should not be treated as though they are necessarily indicative of any other mental health diagnosis. With this in mind, I maintain the belief that therapists owe their clients a curiosity about and knowledge of their stated interests, particularly when that interest is the precise reason for the therapy. For example, a therapist can administer effective therapy to a client who is addicted to a computer game without a cursory familiarity of that game; however, there is so much more to be gained when the relationship can develop a more interpersonal and relatable quality. I act on this belief by engaging with my clients’ inner fantasy worlds to better understand them and, in the process, find deeper meaning in our unfolding relationship.

My clients have ranged from eight years old through late adulthood. I offer therapy for individuals, couples, and groups. My dissertation, “Listen Closely: Using Conversation Analysis to Understand Group Process,” studied the ways in which word choice influences relationships in a group therapy dynamic. I am currently preparing a paper on video game addiction for publication.