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Name: Dr. Dixie J. Luzi
Profession: Clinical Psychologist
License Number: New York State License # 015659
Location: Long Island, New York
Education
2002 Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Long Island University-C.W. Post Campus
1992 M.A., Counselor Education-Counseling Women, New York University
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Professional experience
2002 - on Private Practice, provide therapy for individuals, couples and families
1997 - on Psychologist, United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County
1990 - 1993 Therapist, Innervisions Counseling Center
1985 – 1990 Children’s Counselor, Long Island Women’s Coalition
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Clinical interests
My clinical interests are varied and include therapeutic work and research in the areas of intimacy and attachment disorders, domestic violence, child abuse, parenting skills, and gay and lesbian issues. My approach is eclectic and includes psychodynamic, psycho-educational and cognitive-behavioral interventions, as well as an appreciation for the historical, social, cultural and political contexts that influence our beliefs about life and our interpersonal relationships.
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Love-Life interests and expertise
My love-life interests have paralleled my life long interest and work on behalf of victims of domestic violence and child abuse. From the beginning, I felt that to understand what happens in supposedly loving relationships that lead to abuse, it was equally important if not more important to know about the subject of love and the potential for having healthy, loving relationships. From the 1980’s on I have immersed myself in reading anything I could find on the subjects of love, intimacy, human sexuality, and interpersonal relationships. As an outgrowth of this interest I have also found a passion for positive psychology with its emphasis on helping people recognize and reach the true limits of their potential. I have tried to combine this knowledge into my therapeutic work with individuals, couples, families and groups. In 2003, I developed and ran a series of workshops entitled “Getting the Love You Want,” in an effort to educate interested persons about healthy relationships.
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Practice information
I work privately with individuals, couples and families. My approach is eclectic, including short-term psychodynamic therapy, psycho-educational and cognitive-behavioral techniques.
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Personal relationship status
I am a lesbian, currently single, and dating.
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Love-Life biography
I have been an avid student of love and life for as long as I can remember. My early training was at the knee of a very loving but very young mother. These early times were filled with memories of warmth, tenderness and kindness. Unfortunately for me, the next training period was punctuated by the addition of an alcoholic, abusive stepfather. Who taught me a great deal about what love wasn’t. Although I was young I could see that his rage filled tantrums, self-centeredness, insecurity, and excessive jealousy was because he was immature and didn’t like himself very much. What was harder for me to see was how despite my insights my spirit was being “soul murdered” as a result of living in this environment. Fortunately for me, I have been able to thrive in spite of these scars. Many victims of abuse do not do as well. What made the difference for me was love, the love of my mother and siblings, my friends, adults in my community and sometimes the love of even strangers. These were people in my life who realized that something was going on and who reached out to me. These were relationships that kept my heart open and my hope alive that a better life was possible. This period of my life culminated in my commitment to help others and in my belief in the power of love, especially self-love. As time has passed I have been true to this commitment and I have tried to teach others about love and to believe in its power. For I believe as Leo Buscaglia (one of my early mentors on the subject of love once said,) “Love and the self are one and the discovery of either is the realization of both.”
As I began to date in my early teens I began to run into the damaged pieces of my sense of self. I believed in love but still was unsure of its possibility for me in terms of an intimate love interest. Added to this period was my emerging sense of being gay and my need to openly express this aspect of my self. There wasn’t any doubt for me that I was much more attracted to girls than boys. This was a time unfortunately when being gay was not really talked about except in the most derogatory terms. It was a challenging time for me. When I made the decision to tell my mother I was a lesbian I felt that I was risking my connection to the person I loved most in life. Surprisingly, my mother took the news pretty well and shortly after our discussion encouraged me to tell my sisters. At the time they were ages 10, 8, 6 and 4. This is one of my favorite life affirming memories. Although they were young, they each asked their questions and stated unconditionally their love for me. I felt validated in a way that still makes me feel chills when I think about it. With their support it didn’t matter what the rest of the world had to say, I was beginning to feel free to be me. After a couple of intimate relationships, one that lasted a year and one that lasted three years I learned a great deal about myself and my ability to give and receive love. In one relationship I gave too much at the expense of myself and in another I learned how to be sexually intimate and comfortable with myself. I am grateful to both of these women for the learning, although I had a lot more to learn. At nineteen, I had my heart broken for the first time. It wasn’t the last time but it was the most significant time. The loss of this relationship sent me into an intensive period of self-reflection and growth. I realized that I still needed to work on my ability to love and to value myself. This process led me on a quest of intensive self-development. I entered college, ran a half marathon, became a student and then an assistant instructor in self -defense, became a crisis counselor and played in a rock band. And oh yeah dated a lot.
I think of this time as my “golden days” where everything seemed to come to me easily and I felt the most alive. It was this time that led me to find the most healthy and loving relationship of my life. Although this intimate partnership only lasted ten years, it was a wonderful time because we were both ready for that level of relationship. Our friendship continues to be strong to this day and I can honestly say she is still one of the greatest loves of my life. As this period of my life was evolving I decided to enter therapy and I became a doctoral student. Both were incredible experiences that added much to my life. Now that I have finished therapy and my degree I am slowly beginning to date again. It is an exciting time for me, and I am feeling freed up and happy with my life and myself. I find that I am really the most clear about what I want in a relationship and the most balanced in terms of what I have to offer. It is a time of confidence and comfortableness and I am eagerly looking forward to what love and life have in store for me.
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