Talk therapy is powerful, but sometimes your body holds tension, trauma, and stress that words alone can’t reach. That’s where body-based approaches come in.
I integrate relaxation training, meditation, and clinical hypnosis into my practice because I’ve seen how transformative they can be—especially for people who feel “stuck in their head,” disconnected from their body, or unable to quiet their anxious mind through cognitive approaches alone.
Relaxation Training teaches your body what calm actually feels like. Many people with chronic anxiety or trauma have been tense for so long, they don’t even know what relaxation is anymore. Through progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises, and guided relaxation, you systematically retrain your body to release tension and access states of calm.
Meditation creates space between you and your thoughts. Instead of being swept away by every worry, criticism, or fear that arises, you learn to observe thoughts as mental events that come and go. This doesn’t make anxiety disappear, but it changes your relationship with it. You’re no longer at the mercy of your thoughts—you’re witnessing them with some distance and perspective.
Clinical Hypnosis allows you to access deeper states of relaxation and heightened focus where change becomes easier. In hypnosis, you can rehearse new behaviors, reduce fear responses, manage pain, and access internal resources that feel unavailable in your normal waking state. It’s not magic—it’s focused attention and strategic suggestion, and it’s surprisingly effective.
We’ll identify which approaches resonate with you, practice them together in session, troubleshoot obstacles (like “I can’t quiet my mind” or “I don’t have time”), and develop a sustainable practice that fits your life.
Healing doesn’t just happen in your mind. It happens in your body too.
I struggled with insomnia for fifteen years. I tried everything—melatonin, sleep apps, prescription medications. Nothing created lasting change.
Dr. Forman's CBT-I was different. He explained the science clearly and created a structured treatment plan tailored to me. We worked on sleep restriction, challenging my anxious thoughts about sleep, and relaxation techniques.
What surprised me was that he also addressed my relationship with rest itself. As both a psychologist and rabbi, he helped me understand that some of my insomnia was tied to feeling I didn't 'deserve' rest unless I'd been productive enough. That perspective really shifted something for me.
By session three, I was already sleeping better. By session six, I was consistently sleeping 7-8 hours a night. It's been six months and I'm still sleeping well. After fifteen years of struggling, I finally feel like myself again.
Laura M., Tampa, FL
"I took Ambien every night for ten years. I hated being dependent on it, but every time I tried to stop on my own, I couldn't sleep at all and had to go right back on it.
My new primary care doctor, Dr. Sarah Chen, referred me to Dr. Forman and said, 'He can help you sleep naturally again and get off the medication safely.' I'm so grateful she did.
Dr. Forman created a careful taper schedule while simultaneously teaching me CBT-I techniques—sleep restriction, stimulus control, challenging my anxious thoughts about sleep, and relaxation techniques. He monitored my progress weekly and adjusted the taper speed based on how I was doing.
The taper took about three months. There were a few difficult nights, but Dr. Forman gave me tools to get through them without panicking or reaching for the pill bottle.
What helped beyond just the behavioral techniques was Dr. Forman's perspective on rest and trust. As both a psychologist and rabbi, he helped me understand that I'd stopped trusting my own body. We worked on rebuilding that trust.
By session eight, I was completely off Ambien and sleeping 7 hours naturally. Two months later, I'm still sleeping well without medication. I wake up actually refreshed, not groggy like on Ambien.
At 67, I'm sleeping better than I have in twenty years. Thank you, Dr. Chen, for the referral, and thank you, Dr. Forman, for giving me back my natural sleep and my independence.
Richard G., Joplin, MO
After my assault, I couldn't sleep. The nightmares were constant, and I was terrified to close my eyes. I was exhausted but sleep felt dangerous.
Dr. Forman's trauma-informed approach was exactly what I needed. He validated that my hypervigilance made sense and never pushed me. We addressed my nightmares directly using Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, and within two weeks they decreased dramatically.
We also worked on making my bedroom feel safer and calming my nervous system. Dr. Forman coordinated with my trauma therapist, which was really helpful.
By session six, I was consistently getting 6-7 hours of sleep. The nightmares happen maybe once or twice a month now instead of every night. I'm sleeping again and not afraid to go to bed anymore. That's huge.
Anonymous
Ancient wisdom meets modern science. Transform your nights, awaken your days
