Paula Kirsch, MSW

I want to avoid giving too many personal details about myself, and I want to avoid being overly critical of Paula because I have no ill will against her, but it is no exaggeration to say that the handful of sessions I had with her became a piece of the trauma I continue to work through. Though in retrospect I believe it was unintentional, she minimized my experiences and essentially defended the character of my abuser, amplifying my confusion, shame, and denial (all of which are incredibly common feelings in these situations). I do believe she would be a suitable therapist for many people, particularly for couples in which neither party has a history of sexual assault. I have debated for a long time about leaving her a review and do not believe she is a terrible therapist, but I could not move on with a clean conscience without leaving a word of warning somewhere for fellow trauma survivors about someone who presents themselves as a trauma specialist.