This month, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Nora Aisenberg has joined the Center as a psychotherapist.
A graduate of the University of Illinois and the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Aisenberg has been providing psychotherapy services to people in the Chicago area for more than 25 years.
We caught up with Dr. Aisenberg recently to ask her more about her approach to therapy and why she’s excited to be joining the Center.
Q: How did you first become interested in becoming a psychologist?
A: I have always been very interested and curious about the field of psychology. As an adolescent my next door neighbor, across the street neighbor and best friend’s dad were all psychologists. I thought it was a cool career, and I haven’t stopped feeling that way ever since.
Q: What do you enjoy about being a therapist?
A: Being a psychologist brings me on a journey with each client where I learn their story, their personal narrative. I have always enjoyed reading biographies and understanding how each individual is shaped through the course of their life experiences. Psychotherapy is not just an understanding of the pathway of illness, but also the clients’ resilience, courage and transcendence in facing challenges over the course of their lives.
Q: How would you describe your approach to therapy?
A: My approach to therapy is wide open given that clients benefit from a flexible style. I like to bring in aspects of insight oriented, cognitive/dialectical behavior therapy, as well as existential therapy. But most importantly, I put an emphasis on helping the client adopt a non-judgmental and compassionate approach to self-discovery.
Q: How can getting exercise, proper nutrition and meditation help our emotional state?
A: There is no question in my experience that the mind and the body are connected. In that way, I help the client appreciate the importance of good self-care and attending to their physical as well as emotional selves. When we eat well, keep our bodies moving, and use mindfulness and meditation, we increase our ability to heal and find balance and control over our health.
Q: What are some of the most common issues that people come to you for?
A: Although diagnoses range from anxiety to depression, all clients come because they are suffering. The nature of that suffering often includes the clients’ loss of faith in themselves and others, as well as a breakdown in their ability to find balance and harmony in their emotional, physical and/or spiritual life.
Q: Why did you want to be part of the Center for Holistic Medicine?
A: Early on in my training in physical medicine and rehabilitation I learned how important psychology is in understanding the client as a whole person. I am excited and honored to be part of the team at The Center for Holistic Medicine. I share their mission and treatment philosophy that wellness springs from an integration of mind, body and spiritual healing and is best accomplished with a team of collaborative providers who have experience and state of the art knowledge addressing the underlying causes of illness.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Aisenberg, contact us today!