Specialties

 
 
 
 

Therapy for Anxiety in NYC

Anxiety is felt at different levels and is the most common mental health diagnosis in the United States. You may experience excessive worry, fear or a sinking feeling that doesn’t seem to go away and impacts the quality of your relationships. You may find it challenging to focus in the present moment and, at its worst, experience debilitating panic attacks.

Anxiety can show up in direct correlation to a specific event and may need short-term focused treatment and support. Anxiety can also feel like a persistent, ongoing challenge which will require a different approach in treatment.

    • Feeling nervous, restless and tense consistently

    • Trouble concentrating or challenges in remaining present

    • Having a sense of impending doom, panic or danger

    • Sweating

    • Having difficulty controlling worry

    • Having the urge to avoid things that can cause anxiety

    • Self medicating with drugs or alcohol to feel less anxious

 

The good news is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and an approach tailored to your unique needs can have long-lasting effects and ameliorate the symptoms of anxiety in your body and mind.

There are different ways to manage stress and the impact that anxiety has on your life. Therapy doesn’t have to be forever, but can be useful to identify resources that create a sense of relief and empowerment in managing your anxiety. This could be as simple as taking up a cooking class or an exercise routine that you actually enjoy.

Depression & Suicidal Ideation

Therapy for people struggling with thoughts of self harm, suicide, or those who have had past attempts or have lost someone to suicide.

    • Feeling disconnected from life and your environment

    • Isolation from loved ones

    • Withdrawal from activities once enjoyed

    • Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness

    • Sudden changes in eating, sleeping or neglect of daily routines

    • Not tolerating praise or rewards

    • Feelings of worthlessness or self loathing

    • Direct suicide threats or thoughts of suicide with or without plan

    • Uptake in alcohol use or drugs

    • Self injury

For those who are experiencing suicidal ideation: 

In my past experience I implemented a pilot program in a mental health clinic focusing on suicide-safer care practices, along with opening a crisis-receiving center focusing on lowering  suicide rates and stabilizing crisis. In my private practice, I harness these experiences to tailor a comprehensive wellness plan that includes the relationships that matter most to you. 

If you or anyone else could be in danger, please call 911 . If you are in a state of crisis, please call 988.

 
 

CBT is an effective treatment for depression.

It can show the connection between feelings, response, and thoughts, which are imperative to understanding the experience of disconnection that often accompanies depression. Together we will work to strengthen your sense of self, discover a new found motivation and an empowered sense of worth. It’s possible to experience hope, a recognition of safety, pride and the ability to feel joy again.

 

Therapy for individuals across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

In my two decades as a therapist, I have observed the unique challenges and stressors LGBTQIA+ individuals face belonging to a society that does not fully embrace difference.

The suicide rates are high in this population, the lack of support and/ or upbringing that carries with it a strong judgement and bias can create challenges in all aspects of life. This burden can lead to unfulfilling relationships and a consistent feeling of not being a good enough person. 

Although this story is not everyone’s story, everyone deserves a safe place to comfortably express themselves, especially individuals belonging to a minority group where opportunities may be limited. Having the freedom to be, simply as you are, can open up a wealth of relief and inevitably blossom into the person you hope to be.

 

    • Discrimination

    • Marginalization

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Trauma

    • Effects of living in a heterocentric culture

    • Religious biases and attitudes and its impact in the context of family

 

It’s possible to have the life you dream of having, living openly and authentically.

Therapy can create a safe space to become stronger in your sense of self and feel motivated to have very difficult conversations, including “coming out”.

Relational Issues

Therapy for individuals feeling frustrated and unable to resolve conflict in their relationships or manage relationship stressors in everyday life.

Human beings desire and hope to have deep and meaningful relationships. So often replaying unhelpful patterns or acting out old scripts gets in the way of that desire and leaves us feeling unsuccessful and stuck.

 

    • Relationship conflict

    • Difficulty expressing your wants and needs

    • Integrating what was learned from past relationships into the present & future

    • Parenting stress

    • Family dynamics that have stopped creating joy

    • Divorce and breakups

In addition to individual therapy, I also offer couples and family therapy. Click below to learn more.

 
 

Together, we will explore how past relationship dynamics are showing up in the way that you relate to others.

It’s common to interpret relationships and interactions based on past experiences that may not accurately reflect the present moment. By bringing awareness to the patterns/scripts at play, it becomes possible to discover new ways of being in relationship with oneself and others. 

 

Trauma & Abuse History

 

Therapy for people who have a history of abuse or trauma*. 

*Trauma is defined as having gone through a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, either recent or past, and still experiencing recurring thoughts of the event or impact in current life activities.

I specialize in EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), and Internal Family Systems with creative interventions to promote understanding the impact past or present trauma has on your life.

 

    • Recurring, unwanted distressing memories of the event

    • Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again

    • Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the event

    • Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that remind you of the traumatic event

    • Avoidance of places, things, or people that remind you of the event

    • Difficulty in experiencing positive emotions

    • Feeling detached from family or friends

    • Difficulty maintaining close relationships

    • Being easily startled or frightened

    • Irritability, anger outbursts or aggressive behaviors

    • Overwhelming guilt or shame

 

It’s possible to alleviate symptoms that are causing the most stress in your life and to reestablish a sense of safety.

Healing from trauma and abuse can involve making meaning of the wounded parts of ourselves and reintegrating these parts to create a renewed sense of wholeness. One that is redefined in the context of your current relationships and the environments where you work, live and play.

I help create a sense of safety, trustworthiness and transparency around what to expect in our sessions together. I believe in collaboration and mutuality in the therapeutic process to promote empowerment and choice. Together we will explore any cultural, historical and gender issues that may be contributing or directly causing the effects of trauma in your life.

Therapy is not a “quick fix” and recovery from trauma is not defined by the absence of thoughts or feelings about the traumatic experience, but will instill a sense of well-being and the ability to live with what happened to you in a way that doesn’t control your life.