New York Psychotherapist Murdered
Cognitive Behavioral Therapist Kathryn Faughey Stabbed By Patient
Details the murder scene of the respected New York psychotherapist and explains the philosophy of her treatment of patients throughout her 20-year career.
A New York City psychotherapist was found dead in her office on the Upper East Side on the night of Tuesday, February 12th. Dr. Kathryn Faughey, 56, had been murdered with a meat cleaver and slashed with a 9-inch blade knife with a camoflage handle. Both weapons were found bent. Another therapist, Kent Shinbach, was also found at the clinic on East 79th Street, alive but with major injuries. He had been slashed in the head, face and arms while trying to help his doomed colleague. He is currently in critical condition.
The suspect police are now searching for may be one of Faughey’s own patients. He had been caught on several security cameras as he exited through a basement door after committing the gruesome murder. He was seen covered in blood as he left the building. Police believe they know who the killer is and have set up a manhunt to bring him in.
The attack is said to have happened at 9 pm on Tuesday night. Faughey had been practicing cognitive behavioral therapy at the same location for the past 20 years. Cognitive behavioral therapy is said to focus on changing thoughts that cause negative feelings or behaviors. In saying this, Faughey was used to dealing with severely depressed patients. She also seemed dedicated to this relatively new style of treatment. Her website,lists an article excerpted from the New York Times which explains the differences between traditional psychotherapy and the cognitive behavioral therapy that she practiced.
The traditional style of treatment consisted of the therapist urging the patient to open up about their haunting past and discover how it has affected their present state of mind. The type of therapy that Faughey practiced has been growing in popularity over the last 15 years among contemporary therapists. The treatment consists of identifying underlying assumptions and thought processes which lead to depression and other behaviors that require therapy. The therapist works with the patient to reshape their way of thinking in order to be able to create a better mindset for their present situation. This method often takes less time to treat, about 10 to 15 sessions according to the article.
On her website, Faughey listed her ability to treat depression and anxiety caused by life changes, eating disorders, loneliness, and loss. She focused on re-establishing relationships, happiness, and health as a result of the treatment through labyrinths, movement, and breathing. Faughey has been quoted in the New York Times in the past and was responsible for the development of several psychology classes at various universities.
