About Adi Diamant
Becoming a therapist was influenced by personal experiences.
I met my first therapist when I was 17 years old, and, boy, did I not like her. However, a few things that she said in session that day many years ago stuck with me and influence me even today.
She knew what she was doing because I have been in therapy on and off for most of my life.
I had all those same “sentences” rattling around in my head, and I felt that I could figure it out alone or that it was hopeless even to try.
But luckily, I found myself going back and working through my resistance one step at a time. And each time that I participated, the results were personal growth, even though I could not always see it at that moment.
Through my experiences with therapy, my life changed for the better. This process made me appreciate the power of therapy.
Here is a little about my experience.
My desire to become a therapist started when I was a teenager; but as a dancer, I also loved the world of movement. Therefore, I received my B.A degree in Kinesiology and dance education in Tel Aviv, Israel. I chose this major because I wanted to become a Dance Therapist; and for 20 years, I taught movement/dance and pilates.
However, my desire to become a therapist just grew even more while working with people through movement. Therefore, while living in the United States for many years, I decided to make my dream come true and went to Antioch University in Los Angeles to learn Clinical Psychology. After 3000 hours, several internships, and studying for exams, I became a licensed therapist. I cherish forever the day that I received my license.
I love to study and gain more knowledge. I see it as many little suitcases that I can take resources from to support clients with different needs and wants. After many years of working with eating disorders and becoming a specialist in that field, I wanted to specialize in trauma, so I took the time and signed myself up for this journey.
I have over three years of studying under SEI (Dr. Peter Levine) Somatic Experiencing and have become a SEP (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner) in addition to being trained in TRM (Trauma Resilience Method) and EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
For many years now, I have a private practice that I truly love, and I will be honored and happy to meet you there.
On a personal note...
On a personal note...
I was born in Haifa, a beautiful beach town, and lived there until moving to the United States in 2001.
I am the youngest of four siblings. All three of my siblings were born close to each other and I came to the world many years apart.
Growing up, we used to go to the beach every Saturday and as a teenager, this is where I spent most of my summer days. I love the beach.
I also love to dance, I love NYC, I love to study new things, I love my family and people who truly cherish meaningful friendships, I love my dog to the moon and back and I truly love being a therapist and working with people.
Diagnoses are like boxes, and people are like rivers.
As a person you grow, you change, you move, and you are fluid as the river.
Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda
How you speak to yourself matters.
“I should have done this. I could have done that, or I could have done more.” These are just a few sentences you frequently say to yourself.
Breaking the cycle is about taking a contrary action, avoiding the usual, making a different choice, and changing the language. In short, it is about change. It is about trust. It is about you.
Negative messages can keep you frozen and stuck.
“I have tried many times before.”
“What will be different this time?”
“It will never change.”
Sound familiar? Those are a few more sentences that you keep saying to yourself each time you decide to make the first step for yourself.
Therapy helps change the monologue so that you can change your behavior. Therapy involves meeting your real self. It is having the willingness to be vulnerable.
Through therapy, you develop a new way of seeing, of being, which can result in healing. I get it. It feels “scary.” It requires “too much.” You may think it’s not for you.
Question: Will change occur by sticking to the familiar?
I know sometimes it feels better to keep repeating the same thing, and it also feels safer because it is familiar. But it is the familiar that is causing your misery.
So, if adhering to the familiar solved the problem, you would not be here reading this page. I am happy you are still here; I will meet you where you are.
You decide where to start.
The process of therapy is about you and for you. Part of my role is to meet you where you are.
If you are excited to work on your healing process, I will meet you there. If you are skeptical, feel pushed by others to show up, and are upset, I will meet you there.
If you are confused and have many different thoughts and feelings about showing up, I will meet you there.
Don’t let your problem define you.
You may struggle with anxiety, depression, challenged relationships with food, poor body image, eating disorders, an unhealthy relationship, and other issues. Whatever the problem, it should not define you. It is not your identity, even though at times you feel like it is.
In therapy, among other things, you will learn to externalize the problem from your self and rewrite your story. The point to remember is that YOU are not your problem! YOU are not your disorder! YOU are not your unhealthy relationships!
YOU are not your diagnosis!
Some of the methods that I use, among others, are Experiential Therapy and Somatic Experiencing, which focus on our emotions/ sensations/ feelings/ thoughts at present, even while we explore past experiences. It is compelling when we engage the whole system in the therapy process while treating your body and your mind as one.
Our work together is specific to your needs.
As I mentioned earlier, I need to meet you where you are, help you feel safe, and slowly build trust. The best way for you to have a positive experience is by taking the first step of self-care and show up.
The therapeutic relationship is one of the most critical things in the healing process. It is a relationship of trust, honesty, and growth.
It is not about my years of education and internships, my experiences, and my personal story.
It is about you.
How do we work together?
I believe that creativity is one of the great ways of healing, connecting, and being present.
Together, we will also work on redirecting negative thoughts, self-care, building healthy boundaries, better communication skills, mindfulness, and day-to-day exercises that will help you practice new ways of thinking and doing.
Honestly, there is so much more than unfolds in sessions, and the process can differ for each person.
When is a good time to start your therapy?
The only good time is now. You may not fully trust the process. You may be excited about starting the process. You may not know how you feel. This is all ok.
You matter!
Feel what you feel, think what you think, but take action and show up for yourself!