Dr. Herb Rappaport has been in private practice for over 30 years working with adults and couples. He has resisted the current trend in psychology which tends to focus on symptoms and “short-term fixes.” Dr. Rappaport combines his classical training in psychoanalysis with innovations anchored in the humanistic tradition of psychology. Based on his pioneering work on time and identity, Dr. Rappaport’s treatment is directed to identifying historical conflict so that an individual can envision and enact their vision of the future.
His style is lively, engaging, and infused with a combination of experience-based wisdom and humor.
Common Presenting Problems
- Depression and/or Anxiety have become the “common cold” in the field of mental health. Though sometimes requiring medical solutions, they are most often a by-product of unresolved historical, interpersonal, occupational and identity conflict.
- Relationship Distress among original family members, marital/romantic partners or between parents and children are common reasons for seeking help. Dr. Rappaport has actually worked across up to three generations of a family, both individually and in groups.
- Career Conflict and Transition are often triggers for presenting symptoms such as anxiety, depression and marital discord. Dr. Rappaport’s facility with both clinical dynamics and work in the business sector provide an opportunity to address occupational issues.
The desire for healing, growth and authenticity is at the center of Dr. Rappaport’s body of work with both patients and many years of research. The trigger for self examination often comes from hitting an “existential wall” causing loss of focus and questions about life’s meaning. Inevitably, this paradigm leads to the core questions of “where have I been, where am I now, and where am I going.”
Dr. Rappaport’s Typical Patients
- Are committed to working intensively to address historical and contextual factors associated with their presenting problems.
- Recognize that short-term solutions, including medication, might not lead to long-term successful outcomes.
- Understand that the path to growth requires an openness to self-exploration and the willingness to entertain a “paradigm” shift when their life seems out of alignment with their identity and goals.
Location
Dr. Rappaport’s office is a warm accommodating room surrounded by trees and easily accessible, just a few minutes from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.
