I originally trained in a specialty known as "psychodynamic" psychotherapy, which is the open-ended, exploratory talk therapy most commonly practiced in New York City. While this approach does provide support and help patients gain insight into the origins of their problems, as a therapist, I grew increasingly impatient with its glacial pace and limited impact on my clients' day-to-day lives. At one point, searching for a more useful approach for a client who sought help for her panic attacks, I decided to teach myself the basics of cognitive therapy for panic and anxiety. I was immediately awed by the results. Not only did this woman experience dramatic relief, but as I introduced the cognitive approach across my practice, the response was overwhelmingly positive. My clients actually started to feel more in control, and to leave my office with a fresh perspective and an effective set of tools to use when they faced challenges. I was totally energized, and eager for more. Over the next couple of years, I continued to immerse myself in the cognitive-behavioral model and techniques, and became skilled at treating panic, anxiety disorders, and depression. My work was reviewed and certified by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and I pursued advanced training at "the source": the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. There, I worked with a gifted mentor who encouraged my goal of integrating the specific techniques I had mastered into a broader, more sophisticated approach that considers core beliefs and dynamics. Today, I continue to consult to clients using powerful, proven techniques for anxiety and other problems, but always within an individualized conceptual approach that addresses core mechanisms and seeks to create lasting change.