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Heiko Ganzer

Psychotherapist

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Heiko Ganzer is a graduate of Stony Brook University Graduate School holding a Masters in Social Work and a Bachelor of Science from Empire State University. He is also a graduate of South Oaks Addiction’s Institute, served as a United States military advisor to South Vietnam, received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded the expeditionary medal for his foreign military service.

 

He has held business positions for over 30 years leading to the position of Operations Director for a Fortune 500 company. Heiko changed careers and developed, designed, and operated the first state-funded problem gambling treatment center on Long Island, NY. He is now doing similar projects for other treatment Agencies in New York City and Long Island. He is a retired certified addiction specialist, licensed clinical social worker, who recently earned the title of counselor emeritus from the office of alcohol and substance abuse in New York State. He has also held the titles of Director of Problem Gambling Treatment Services, Substance Abuse Counselor and Supervisor of Social Workers... Heiko has worked directly and exclusively with many addictions related illnesses and their families for many years. In addition, he has performed problem gambling and substance abuse addiction interventions. He founded a private practice on Long Island as a family therapist dealing with relationships, addictions, and many other therapies. Heiko has special interests in the spouses of addicted persons as well as the addicted. He is a retired Board member and past President of the Board of Directors for the New York Council on Problem Gambling; He has presented papers nationally, locally, and participated in many corporate managerial courses.

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Professional Organizations/Affiliations & Awards:

  • Social Worker of the Year 2000, Suffolk County NY, NASW: National Council Problem Gambling New York Council

  • Counselor Emeritus Certificate earned through OASAS NYS

  • Problem Gambling – Board Member, Past President & Chair of Fund Raising

  • NYS Educational Think Tank for adolescents

  • Distinguished Graduate, Empire State College

  • Supervisor of Interns Certificate, Adelphi University

HOW I WORK

I take an attitude of unconditional acceptance. This basically means that I hold you in high regard because you are a person, no matter what your problem is.

 

I work hard to develop a relationship with you, to help you discover what is going on in your unconscious mind. I do this partly by theoretical knowledge (academic stuff!), partly by experience, and partly through my knowledge of myself.

 

I know the last part must seem quite weird, but actually it is critical. I often use how I am feel in the room with you, as a guide to how you are feeling. I am, for lack of a better way of putting it, testing the relationship with you to discover more about you than you are aware of. I use interpretations, which are a way of making sense to you about what is going on, in order to help you become aware of your unconscious feelings.

 

So, in every session, I am trying to judge, how much you are in touch with your own feelings, what feelings you are not aware of, how close are you to knowing the unconscious feelings, how painful these feelings are to you, and how well you can tolerate the pain that becoming aware of these feelings will bring.

 

I hope this gives you a rough idea of how this complicated process works.

Media & Presentations

Heiko Ganzer television appearances:

Dateline NBC, News 12 Long Island, The Recovery Channel (Cable), NBC Extra, Lets Talk – TV special (Cable Great Neck), WPIX TV and many radio stations Nationally and on Long Island.

 

Heiko has presented papers, workshops, and training at:

The National Conference on Problem Gambling, Pennsylvania Council on Problem Gambling – Florida Council on Problem Gambling – Annual Conference, New York Council on Problem Gambling – Annual Conference Dix Hills East High School, Great Neck High School, Jericho Middle School, Sayville High School, EAP – New York State, Office for the Aging – Nassau County, Probation Department – Nassau County Mental Health, Nassau County EAP, Suffolk County Bar Association, Suffolk County Probation, Suffolk County Court System.

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