Like many stories, this one starts with a big idea and a desire to change.
Dr. Flamenbaum and Dr. Kassinove
Dr. Kassinove started his career as a full-time college professor by day, while seeing patients after work and on weekends…he was always on-call. He worked tirelessly to help people but he always wanted to do more. After sending out many outreach letters to tell people about his therapy practice, one person finally replied and wanted to meet with him to hear more about his work. This new connection linked him with Dr. Flamenbaum, who at the time was a counselor at a private school. Unbeknownst to them, the work they were about to embark on would become the building blocks for the models they use in their programs today.
While at a private school, Dr. Flamenbaum started sending clients to Dr. Kassinove. Dr. Flamenbaum felt the students would benefit from the direct behavioral style that Dr. Kassinove used with his patients. Dr. Kassinove was action-oriented and often produced results where others were unable to do so; he would take his clients for walks, do behavioral exercises outside of the office, all to help treatment to generalize and take hold. During the next few years, Dr. Flamenbaum would continue to send students and families with complex issues to Dr. Kassinove because of the successful results.
These outcomes were not just because of Dr. Kassinove’s work, but due to the synergy between them. Dr. Flamenbaum loved kids and believed that it takes a team to make a difference. He was one of the few school administrators that “made things happen” by removing psychological barriers to help a child learn. They worked together to create a treatment that occurred not just in the office but also in the school.
While at a private school, Dr. Flamenbaum started sending clients to Dr. Kassinove. Dr. Flamenbaum felt the students would benefit from the direct behavioral style that Dr. Kassinove used with his patients. Dr. Kassinove was action-oriented and often produced results where others were unable to do so; he would take his clients for walks, do behavioral exercises outside of the office, all to help treatment to generalize and take hold. During the next few years, Dr. Flamenbaum would continue to send students and families with complex issues to Dr. Kassinove because of the successful results.
These outcomes were not just because of Dr. Kassinove’s work, but due to the synergy between them. Dr. Flamenbaum loved kids and believed that it takes a team to make a difference. He was one of the few school administrators that “made things happen” by removing psychological barriers to help a child learn. They worked together to create a treatment that occurred not just in the office but also in the school.
It became apparent that the combination of their work and knowledge was more beneficial than they had thought. As time passed, Dr. Flamenbaum outgrew his position as a guidance counselor and Dr. Kassinove outgrew his psychology practice. They realized their treatments were powerful and could be done on a larger scale. In 2010, without any business plan or funding, they took a leap of faith and created programs based on their work, knowing that their efforts could change the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults.
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Today, Therapy West stands tall and is changing the way therapy is conducted everyday. Their team has helped thousands of clients and continue to do so through the Axis Protocol™, a pathway to change.
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