Find Meaning and Rhythm in Your Life
I believe that our most human trait is to create a narrative of our lives that gives us purpose and meaning. I work with people to make sense of themselves and their lives by understanding their own life story, and seeking to move forward in a different way.
About
Irene Hurford, MD
I am a psychiatrist specializing in the mental health treatment of individuals struggling to make sense of themselves, and their place in their life and in the world. I have worked for many years with individuals with psychosis, which has taught me to respect our innately human ability to construct narratives of our experiences, and the power of those narratives to define our sense of meaning and purpose. I work with individuals who want to create lasting change in their lives and bring meaning back to their life story.
01.
Therapy is an opportunity to learn about who we are, how we have come to be, and where we can go moving forward. Therapy is about understanding our own personal narrative about our lives, and our place in the world. Therapy can help us to find and create meaning. Therapy can also give us relief from the symptoms that arise in response to feeling out of place in our own lives: depression, anxiety, obsessionality, compulsiveness, impulsiveness, and breaks from reality.
02.
I offer two therapy groups
1) For women and men who have lost a baby during pregnancy or childbirth
2) For women and men experiencing infertility
Both groups will focus on processing grief and loss, understanding how to evolve our own personal and family narrative to include the experience of pregnancy loss and infertility, and to offer each other support during what is a difficult and often devastating time.
03.
Medications can help to provide relief from specific symptoms, and can also help therapy to move forward by reducing the distress of particular symptoms to allow for therapeutic work to occur. For certain people, medication is a necessary part of maintaining health and stability. For others, medications may be a temporary treatment. I offer medication management either for 20 minute of 45 minute appointments, depending on an individual's complexity or preferences.