Driola Dega, LMFT

Psychotherapist

she/her/hers

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Bio:

Driola Dega, LMFT is an attachment-based, culturally sensitive therapist who works with individuals (adults), couples, and families. She utilizes an existential, collaborative and highly engaging approach as she supports her clients in identifying and drawing upon their strengths to move toward self-realization. A firm believer in the benefits of self-realization and insight, Driola aims to assist clients in identifying their own answers. Her work relies upon a variety of therapeutic techniques in which she is highly-trained and well-versed, including Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT), CBT-E (for Eating Disorders), Emotionally Focused (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma-Informed.

Driola believes that all clients have the capacity to reach their potential, but must first identify the factors that keep them “stuck.” Such obstacles might include (but are not limited to) self-defeating beliefs, genetic pre-dispositions to anxiety or depression, sociocultural systemic oppression, or problematic family or couple dynamics. In Driola’s challenging yet compassionate approach, she helps clients recognize how such factors create limiting self-views and preclude personal growth and happiness.

Driola specializes in the treatment of family conflict, relationship issues, life transitions, and mood disorders. Other common areas of treatment include chronic illness, codependency, eating disorders, grief, narcissistic personality (NPD), racial identity, sexual abuse, trauma and PTSD. In addition to English, she speaks Albanian, Italian and Spanish.

Get to know Driola

• How would you describe your therapeutic style in your own words?

  My approach is informed and inspired by Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which focuses on self-awareness and understanding of how past experiences—especially early childhood relationships—influence current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

• What's one therapeutic concept you find yourself explaining often?

  Cycle of vulnerability- defensiveness of conflict in a relationship, I draw the cycle of conflict together with the couple. It helps couples identify what vulnerability triggered by the other, which activates the defensiveness that escalates the conflict in a dysfunctional pattern.

• What's currently on your nightstand or in your podcast queue?

  The Count of Montecristo by Alexander Dumas,
  “The Age of Reason” - Jean Paul Sartre

  Podcasts: “The school of life: An emotional education”, “Diary of a CEO”

• How do you help clients navigate the unique stresses of city living?

  The city life can be very lonely- I encourage them to meet new people, or nurture existing ones.

  Sometimes I encourage them to be ok with doing nothing and tolerate the heaviness that comes with just existing.

• What would you say to someone who's hesitant about starting therapy?

  I typically tell them to give it at least one session and reflect on how they felt, what they can benefit from it in the future. I also say that an objective, neutral ear might provide with the space and advise that friends and family don’t, due to the emotional bond.