Max Friedman

I work with adults and teens navigating addictions, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, relationships, sexual issues, life transitions, difficult personalities, and old traumas — and anything else in between.

Before starting my own practice, I sought out difficult settings to earn my stripes. Think state psych ward, court-ordered group therapy, post-crisis stabilization. I've heard and seen a lot. Very little surprises me anymore. Whatever you bring into the room is fair game.

People who've worked with me describe a calming presence — a sense of safety to go to the harder places. Others have said professional, warm, and surprisingly effective. I take the work seriously without making it heavy.

My style is eclectic, which allows me to customize my approach to each individual. Some clients have ongoing conditions to manage. Other issues can be cleared up in just a session or two.

I work with people who want evidence-based care and are open to exploring beyond it — those who value a holistic, body-mind perspective. I draw from solution-focused therapy, Internal Family Systems, somatic and bioenergetic approaches, motivational interviewing, and Ericksonian techniques.

I work with people who have specific changes in mind — those interested in collaboration and experimentation to find what will be most effective in causing and sustaining those changes.

In our first session I'm more interested in your greatest hopes than your full history. I'll ask what's brought you to therapy now, what has or hasn't worked before, and what you'd most like to have be different. I look for strengths from the start — and some people find the first session more useful than they expected.

By the end you'll have a sense of my style and whether we're a good match. I'll be honest if I think someone else might serve you better.

If any of this sounds like you, I'd be pleased to connect for a brief call to see if we're a good fit. It would be an honor to get to know you better and to see how I may support you.