OrensteinSolutions

About Dr. Susan Orenstein

Welcome to Orenstein Solutions and thank you for taking the time to learn about me and my work.

Education and Training:

Dr. Orenstein earned a B.A. in Psychology from Brown University, a Masters is Community Counseling from Georgia State University, and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Temple University in 1998.

She has also pursued advanced training in the following:

• Certificate in Family Therapy from the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic
• Certified in Prepare/Enrich pre-marital program
• Certified as PAIRS Instructor
• Certified anger management specialist through Century Anger Management
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Couples Communication/Marital Therapy
• Disipute Resolution and Family Mediation
• Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Clinical Experience:

Dr. Orenstein has had experience working in various settings including community mental health clinics, inpatient and outpatient medical settings, dispute settlement centers, university counseling centers and corporate settings.  She has enjoyed providing consultation and counseling to college students, adults, couples and families in her private practice since 1998. 

She has also created specialized services for older teens and young adults, recognizing the particular struggles of this age group. In her "College-Bound for Success" program, Dr. Orenstein helps these emerging adults set meaningful goals, handle responsibility, improve their confidence, communicate effectively, maintain family ties, and manage their stress more effectively.  Dr. Orenstein has been conducting workshops for over ten years on topics such as optimism, student success, family transitions, healthy marriages, interpersonal relationships, work-life balance, and procrastination.  She has created a resource, The College Companion:  Your Survival Guide to College Life, that have been given by corporations, State School Systems, parents, grandparents, and friends as graduation gifts to their high school seniors.

Dr. Orenstein also enjoys sharing her clinical expertise through psycho-educational workshops and speaking engagements.  She has presented lectures, keynote speeches and workshops on topics such as Optimism, Time Management, Healthy Marriages, Conflict Resolution, and Family Transitions to the following groups and organizations:

• SAS Institute
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Rosen Law Firm’s Stay Happily Married Program
• Duke University Short Courses
• Lausanne Collegiate School
• Durham Academy
• Meredith College
• Campbell University
• London Law Consortium
• Rosen Law Firm
• NC Central University Law School
• Friends Yearly Meeting
• Girl Scouts Councils
• Chapel Hill High School
• Charlotte Latin School
• Law Offices of Arnold M. Weiss
• Camelot Academy
• Hispanic Educational Summit
• N.C. Community Colleges
• Greensboro College
• Cary Chamber of Commerce
• St. Mary's School for Girls
• St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
• Jewish Women's Foundation
• N.C. Office of State Personnel
• Natl. Assoc. of Professional Organizers

Professional Development:

At Orenstein Solutions, we place a high priority on professional development and  regularly engage in continuing education courses and keep up with current research findings.  I also maintain memberships in the following professional organizations:

• American Psychological Association (since 1992)
• North Carolina Psychological Association (since 1998)
• Division of Independent Professional Practice

Specialties:

Dr. Orenstein provides consultation and counseling to individuals and couples struggling with mood and anxiety disorders, insomnia, overwhelming stress, anger management difficulties, self-destructive behaviors and relationship concerns. She has extensive experience working with couples, offering pre-marital and couples counseling to help couples improve their communication skills, adjust to life transitions (e.g., new baby), rebuild trust after an affair, and develop more affection and intimacy in their relationships.

• Depression and Anxiety
• Relationship Issues
• Anger Management
• Insomnia
• Procrastination
• Couples/Marital Counseling
• Affair Recovery
• Stress Management
• Adjustment and Family Issues of College Students/Young Adults
• Pre-Marital Counseling
• Work-Life Balance
• Eating Disorders- Overeating, Bulimia, Body Image Concerns
  

Benefits of Couples Counseling:

• Improved Ability to Communicate with your Partner
• Improved Mood
• Ability to Problem-Solve around Sensitive Issues
• Increased Awareness of Your Partner’s Needs
• Improved Ability to Express Oneself
• Decreased Anxiety and Stress
• Renewed Sense of Closeness and Intimacy
• Roadmap for Handling Disagreement and Conflicts
• Affair Recovery:  A Process for Re-building Trust, and Letting Go of Resentment

Benefits of Individual Counseling:

• Improved Mood
• Decrease in Stress, Anxiety and Depression
• Increased Ability to Motivate and Reward Yourself
• Elimination of Destructive Habits (e.g., substance abuse, compulsive overeating)
• Increased Self-Confidence and Self-Respect
• Development of Creative Problem-Solving and Coping Skills
• Improved Communication Skills
• Enhanced Interpersonal Relationships

About Me:

On a personal note, Dr. Orenstein recognizes the delicate juggling act of balancing marriage, family and work.  She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband and two sons.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking and an occasional night out for a movie or concert.