Lorna Haim-Baker has extensive experience working with various diagnoses, but she eventually realized her true passion lies in marriage and couples counseling. This is the work that brings her the most fulfillment. Lorna is especially gratified when she can help save marriages where children are involved. In this article, we’ll share the story of this psychologist and her signature methodology—marriage marathons. Read on at bronxanka.
Lorna’s Personal Story
Lorna Haim-Baker admits her life hasn’t always been easy. Her first marriage went through difficult times, and the couple saw many therapists before finding someone who helped them truly hear and understand each other. Lorna believes she helped her husband overcome cancer and take responsibility for other challenges that affected their family. Her personal experience brought her closer to many professionals in the field. It also helped Lorna understand which direction to take when developing her own methodology: what to focus on and which practices to avoid. She is most grateful to her primary mentor, Dr. Richard Belson, who not only deepened her knowledge of psychology but also taught her how to separate her own experiences from her clients’ therapy.
Lorna earned her Master of Social Work from Adelphi University in 2003 and worked under Dr. William James at a counseling service in New York City. For a long time, she was a clinical therapist helping people with various forms of addiction. It was then that she first noted how often destructive addictions negatively impact relationships.
Lorna had always dreamed of having her own practice, and that dream came true in 2012 when she defined her mission: to help couples and families. After her second marriage, the psychologist moved to the Bronx and opened “Riverdale Therapy & Counseling Services,” where she has been seeing clients for nearly 13 years.
Lorna has always been very self-critical and responsible. Before opening her center, she called Dr. Belson and asked him to be her supervisor as she started her independent practice. Belson agreed to oversee Haim-Baker’s work, but he did so more for her peace of mind, as he had no doubt that Lorna would succeed.
The Unique Marathon Methodology
Unfortunately, not many couples, especially in the Bronx, seek psychological help. Men are often skeptical, believing that mere conversation is unlikely to achieve any real results. When speaking with a female psychologist, they become even more convinced that they are alone against two women who can never truly understand men. However, the main reason for the low percentage of couples seeking therapy is the financial aspect.
The issue is that family and couples therapy is not covered by any type of health insurance, meaning it’s always an additional out-of-pocket expense. But Lorna, knowing she could earn much more from individual consultations, still chooses couples therapy as her primary focus. She genuinely wants to help every family in need, primarily because she has gone through a similar experience herself.
To attract clients and reduce the financial burden, the psychologist developed her own methodology, which she packaged into a convenient format she calls “marathons.” There are three main types:
- “My Pre-Marital Marathon” — for couples who are already preparing for marriage but have encountered misunderstandings and want to be sure they are making the right choice.
- “My Marriage Marathon” — for married couples who are considering divorce.
- “My Committed Couples Marathon” — for couples who are not yet married but have children together or are serious about a long-term relationship.
How does the marathon format differ from a typical therapy session? Usually, a couple comes to a specialist for a standard 45-minute session, during which they talk. But often, it’s only after 40 minutes that people begin to relax and open up. Just as they start to touch on deep feelings and hidden thoughts, the time is up. The couple leaves the office, and each partner retreats back into their shell, repeating the cycle from session to session.
So what does Lorna Haim-Baker offer? She allocates a six-hour block for each individual couple. The session lasts a minimum of two hours, and from there, it depends on what the couple achieves. Lorna is prepared to spend as much time with them as they need. Importantly, they only pay for the hours they actively work with her. There’s no alarm that goes off mid-emotion or thought, forcing clients to leave without resolving the core issue. Lorna stays with them for as long as it takes. Typically, these marathons last 3-4 hours, but some may need the full 6. In one case, she spent 8 hours with a couple. By the end of the meeting, they were completely different people than when they had arrived.
Other Areas of the Psychologist’s Work
Lorna Haim-Baker also provides therapy to individual clients facing issues related to substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and relationships with both romantic and platonic partners. She works with people who have difficult family dynamics, suffer from high anxiety, and are going through challenging life transitions.
Lorna often helps single people who want to find a partner but don’t know how to choose the right one. Many of them are tired of endless, fruitless dates. Singles are perhaps the second group Lorna loves working with. She supports those who feel they are losing the chance to find true love, helping them change unsuccessful dating patterns, avoid repeating past mistakes, and improve their chances of success.
The psychologist understands that while online dating is an effective way to meet single people, it can be intimidating for some. The pandemic made this format even more relevant. Many couples have formed through such platforms, but there are also those who are convinced that the internet is full of scammers and losers. Lorna explains to her single clients the importance of patience, consistency, and caution in online dating. She helps them create a profile that accurately reflects the right information, as well as analyze other profiles to see “between the lines” for important psychological and personal aspects.
Why Clients Love Lorna
Online consultations are a common practice that allows psychologists to earn extra income from remote clients. But Lorna Haim-Baker hasn’t conducted virtual sessions since the pandemic. She notes that while she held sessions via Zoom for three years due to COVID, she believes that in-person meetings are far more effective. Lorna feels more competent during real-life sessions because she can better read her clients’ body language and establish a stronger connection.
What sets Lorna apart from many other specialists is that she is available to her clients seven days a week. She carefully monitors her messages and tries to answer every call. The psychologist promises to call back within 24 hours if she receives a voicemail with a name, phone number, and a convenient time to return the call.
Another unique aspect of Haim-Baker’s work is her free initial consultations. Before taking on any client, Lorna conducts a conversation during which she learns all the details, asks many questions, and analyzes the information. Only after this does she contact the potential client and propose a type and format of interaction. Sometimes, the psychologist declines to work with someone if she feels she cannot help or senses that the necessary connection won’t be there. Lorna is always direct about this to avoid wasting each other’s time. For this sincerity, honesty, mutual respect, and dedication, Lorna Haim-Baker is valued by her patients, as evidenced by the vast number of positive reviews about her on various platforms.