My Practice

Hi,

My name is Rob Staffin. I am a clinical psychologist licensed in New Jersey and New York. I received my doctorate from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in 1990. I work with children and adults in the context of individual, couples and family therapy. I have worked in hospitals and clinics as well as privately in both group and individual settings. In 2002, my partner, Gail Talcoff, MSW, LCSW and I opened Staffin & Talcoff Associates, Inc. Our practice is located at 304 Johnson Avenue in Teaneck, NJ 07666.

I am an approved consultant of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and a diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Hypnosis.

People often ask me, “Don’t you get depressed listening to people’s sad stories all day long?” The answer is no because I hear their concerns and look to utilize the ways that they conceptualize the issues with which they are struggling as clues and keys hinting at the skills, strengths, experiences and resources that they possess. A central aspect of how I work is to facilitate people accessing and harnessing these strengths and resources in new and creative ways. The result is an organic experience that feels intuitively right for that particular person.

I believe this also reflects my adherence to a “positive psychology” model. Historically, and in many practices today, practitioners look at maladaptive coping styles with an eye towards repairing them. Although this is, in many cases, essential, one is equally free to look to people’s experiences of success, growth, satisfaction and enjoyment and understand how those experiences can be brought to bear on the situation at hand.

There are many really good therapists and psychologists in Bergen County. Finding the one who is right for you is a matter of personal preference. The research on successful outcomes in psychotherapy routinely highlights the relationship between the client and therapist as one of the key components. Finding someone who you like and believe can help you with your concerns is a good beginning.

Jerry Garcia, the former lead guitarist for the Grateful Dead, in response to a question about the loyalty and devotion of the band’s fans, stated, “We’re a lot like licorice, not everyone likes licorice but those who like licorice really like licorice.” I do not purport to be the right therapist for everyone, however, for those who enjoy my style and technique, I am exactly the right psychologist.