May is National Mental Health Awareness Month
Your name(s): Dr. Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D.
Company name: Lukin Center for Psychotherapy
Your position: Founder and Clinical Director
Website: lukincenter.com
Phone number: (908) 509-8336
Business address: 128 S. Euclid Ave. Westfield, NJ 07090
Congratulations on opening your business in Westfield last year! How is it going and what do you like about the downtown and local community?
We are excited to be here and are looking forward to providing the Westfield community with the latest evidence-based psychotherapy services, medication management options, therapeutic groups, comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and more!
I really enjoy Westfield because there is such a sense of community here. Downtown is amazing with all of the best restaurants, the parks are beautiful and when we had our ribbon cutting Mayor Brindle and many others came out to support us, which really made us feel welcome!
Describe what your company does. How long has it been in business?
The Lukin Center for Psychotherapy was established in 2014 by my wife, Dr. Paula Yanes-Lukin, and myself, Dr. Konstantin Lukin. Since then, it is now one of the largest practices of its kind in Northern New Jersey. Lukin Center for Psychotherapy takes the guesswork out of choosing mental health treatment. We are proud to be a family practice that provides compassionate care for patients of all ages and backgrounds. Our patients have access to a wider range of proven therapeutic techniques delivered by the most extensively trained clinicians, all in one comprehensive treatment center.
We provide psychotherapy, medication management, group therapy, neuropsychological evaluations and community mental health education. We now have 6 locations, including Hoboken, Jersey City, Montclair, Ridgewood, Englewood, and now Westfield, NJ! We are operating both in person and virtually based on clinical and practical needs.
Our mission is to inspire healthier communities through compassionate, evidence-based mental health treatment; science-driven education; and trusted, accessible resources.
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Please tell us the significance of what this month means to our community.
The month of May brings awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness. I encourage Westfield residents to use this yearly reminder to check in with themselves and assess their personal mental health as well as their interpersonal connections to others.
We now live in the post-Pandemic world. How have you seen recent times impact our mental and behavioral health?
These unprecedented times have created significant mental health challenges from socialization and behavioral challenges in children to romantic relationships issues in couples. Given that, I think it is even more important to spend the month of May to recharge and continue to develop healthy strategies to manage stress and relationship dynamics effectively.
What can our audience of local residents do to live a mindful healthy life?
I think the fast way to become mindful and come into alignment with yourself is to pause and reflect on one’s values in life, i.e., be it spending more time with loved ones, traveling the world, or building a business empire. Writing down top 3 values, and checking them regularly, will help anyone to develop better habits that lead to a more fulfilling, mindful lifestyle.
Any warning signs or symptoms we should look out for to protect our health?
There are many signs and symptoms that may indicate a need for help. There are the top 3 to look out for:
1) lack of interest/engagement – if you are feeling a lack of emotional participation in tasks or feeling like you are just “going through the motions.”
2) isolation/withdrawal – if you are beginning to spend less time with family and close friends and prefer to be alone excessively.
3) excessive self-destructive behaviors – more problematic behaviors include frequent alcohol and drug consumption, lack of consistent self-care, significant eating/sleeping problems.
What can patients expect when they walk through the doors of your practice?
When a potential patient decides to call for help, it is very important to not only have a great clinical experience, but a streamlined approach from the first call onward. We pride ourselves on our simple and straightforward intake process and scheduling, as well as billing and insurance reimbursement. That’s why from the minute a patient calls Lukin Center for Psychotherapy, they speak with our senior intake coordinator, Jillian Love, and have continued access to our Office Manager, Erin Bouchard. I also personally speak with patients interested in our services and do my best to match the caller’s needs to the best clinician on our team.
As a business owner, please tell us how others can learn from your commitment and inspiration?
I think there are three fundamental principles that a person starting out needs to be aware of: 1) passion for what you are doing (in my case, it is delivering best treatment options for mental health concerns), 2) discipline to carry our actions that are necessary to achieve your goal(s), and 3) uncompromised vision of what you’d like to build. Taken together, I truly believe any goal is achievable!