About Robbie Greenfield

Forwards Ever Backwards Never  

About Robbie Greenfield

Robbie Greenfield, MA, LSW, CHT, has been in private practice since 1996.  Experienced in cognitive behavior therapy and hypnosis, her achievements include:  

• Diplomat status in cognitive behavior therapy (National Association of Cognitive Behavior Therapists - NACBT).
• MSW in Direct Practice from the University of Pittsburgh.
• MA in Counseling from Indiana University of PA.
• BA in psychology from Indiana University of PA.
• Smoking Cessation Specialist, International Hypnosis Federation.
• Completed over 200 hours of hypnosis training.
• Certification in Rational Hypnosis (NACBT).
• Certification by the National Guild of Hypnotists.
• Certified Hypnotist, West Virginia University.
• Robbie is a member of the American Counseling Association and follows the ACA's Code of Ethics.  

Robbie's History

Robbie Robbie Greenfield attended Indiana University for her BA in Psychology.  An excellent and difficult program of study, Indiana University required both a psychology internship and actual research to be completed at the Bachelor's level, which is unusual.

Robbie Greenfield started the first Fibromyalgia Support Group in Greensburg for the Arthritis Foundation in 1991 and continued with it through 1996.  

She later returned to Indiana University in PA to complete a Masters Degree in Counseling.  Robbie was fortunate to have excellent professors and acquired a strong set of skills while counseling students in this program.  She also volunteered and completed an internship at the Alice Paul House Abuse Center in Indiana, PA.   

She attended three, 3 day courses at West Virginia University in Hypnosis starting in 1996.  She was fortunate to train with Alice Erickson (Milton Erickson's granddaughter) at the Advanced level.  

Robbie completed her Masters of Social Work (direct practice) at the University of Pittsburgh, and afterward worked for two practices in the Pittsburgh area, including the locally prominent Isaly Counseling Associates.  She worked in-house as a Mobile Therapist while building her clientele in private practice.  

Early on, Robbie learned to complete more continuing education courses than required for her to excel in her chosen areas.  

She became affiliated with the NACBT (National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists) where she taught continuing education in the areas of chronic pain management, fibromyalgia, and basic hypnosis to other mental health professionals.

Robbie counts herself fortunate to have learned cognitive behavior therapy from well-known and prominent professionals such as David Burns, M.D., Albert Ellis, MD (now deceased), and Aldo Pucci, PSYD.   In recent years, Robbie expanded her practice with extensive training in Smoking Cessation and Weight Loss strategies. Her success rate is high, giving her one of the most successful hypnosis practices in Western PA.  

Robbie believes that as a professional, she can always learn more, never becoming stagnant in her discipline.  Her approach to improving the lives of her clients is an eclectic approach, combining many techniques.  Robbie's belief is "One Size Does Not Fit All."  Robbie views client's problems from every point of view, looking for many solutions.  Robbie's approach is more than "just talking," giving home work assignments to complete in the real world, an effective addition which many therapists do not offer.  of Pittsburgh.  

Points of Interest 

• Robbie has completed several courses on nutrition, emotional eating, the body's reaction to food, and psychological issues related to eating, etc.  (Few weight loss practitioners can claim the same.)
• Robbie practices what she teaches her clients, dropping from 152 lbs to her current weight of 118 lbs.
• Robbie was interviewed for the Fibromyalgia Health Letter, an Arthritis Foundation publication.  The article outlined cognitive behavior therapy for Fibromyalgia and was entitled "CBT – New Ways of Thinking May Help Relieve Pain."
• Robbie was featured in The Latrobe Bulletin, 10/20/2006, with an article entitled:   "Smokers Find New Method to Call it Quits."
• Thomas R Ceraso, Attorney at Law (deceased) requested Robbie Greenfield to provide expert testimony on Hypnosis for a High Profile Case: the "Henkel" Murder case in the summer of 2007 in Pittsburgh, PA.
• National Fibromyalgia Association interviewed Robbie for "Fibromyalgia Aware Magazine (Autumn 2008 Vol 17, Page 80) for an article entitled "Helping Others & Helping Myself," by Robbie Greenfield.
• Robbie teaches basic hypnosis to other professionals seeking continuing education credits.

Robbie's Beliefs on Therapy and Helping Clients

• Therapists should not practice outside their areas of expertise just to take on clients and "make money." 
• Therapists must understand that the goals of therapy must drive the sessions, not their personal biases or judgment. 
• Therapy takes a personal commitment, and there are no miracle cures.
• If the problem has existed for years, it will take more than a few sessions to improve.
• We all learn to take care of our medical health, but emotional health is important too.
• In our society, importance is placed on effective speaking, but perhaps more important is effective listening. 
• Living in the past or worrying about the future, both can cause us to miss the enjoyable moments of the present.
• Excuses are only excuses – nothing good comes of them.
• Appreciate what you have rather than worrying about what you don't have.
• We will never please everyone all of the time.
• We are the keeper of our lives, and everyone can improve if they commit to the work.

On a Personal Note  

 "I have been married to a kind and loving husband named Mark for 20 years. The year after we were married, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I gave up my job as a hotel manager and went back to college for 6 years.  

Hope and Gracie are my dogs. They are sisters and are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Hope loves and kisses everybody. She'll even cry the whole way down the street on a walk looking for people to say hello to! Gracie will scratch your leg until she gets what she wants. She never wants to come back from a walk and will sit down in the street and won't budge.  

My hobby is gardening, which I have been doing for 30 years. I like annuals and perennials, succulents and cacti. I have been told that I am creative person, which is probably how I got started in gardening. I love it because of the beauty and relaxation it brings."  

Contact Robbie Greenfield today to learn how she can help you.

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