Therapists in New York

Hello! My name is Alisa Sawyer. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York with over 7 years of counseling experience. I graduated with my Master’s from University at Albany and have worked in a variety of mental health settings. I am well versed in various treatment approaches and have extensive experience addressing a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, dealing with life transitions, self-esteem issues, and relationship issues. Beyond my formal training, I believe the most important thing I bring as a counselor is my belief in being truly present and in tune with the person I am working with. My counseling style is integrative and pulls from a few different approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Transpersonal Therapy, and Positive Psychology, but most importantly it is grounded in a client-centered approach. What this means is that sessions are not “one size fits all”. Instead we will work together to figure out what is the best combination of techniques and skills to help you meet your goals and most importantly to help you get on a path of living your best life. There is a story in positive psychology that if you put a plant in a darker room with only a small window, after time you will notice that the plant starts bending, growing and reaching toward wherever the light is and it will seek out what it needs to bloom. This mirrors my belief in people, that even in dark and challenging situations there is something in all of us that continues to want to grow and most importantly wants to reach for and seek out the light in life. It is often the dark challenges and difficult things that spark the idea of therapy but it is a person’s decision to seek this help that I believe is one of the biggest demonstrations of this innate desire for the light, for the goodness and joys of being human in action. I aim to be a window for you, to help let the light in and to help you tap into your own capacity to thrive and bloom!

My name is Debra Pruyn and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Oregon and I have my LMSW in the state of New York. I received my Masters of Social Work at Adelphi University in New York in 1995. I have worked in many different fields as a therapist and case manager with individuals in the fields of Probation, Early Intervention, Mental Health and Addictions. I have worked with individuals with diagnosis of anxiety/depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and relationship issues as well as severe and persistent mental illness. Over my almost 30 years of experience with social work, I have worked as a Counselor to many people to bring support during times of difficulty. I truly believe that each of us are able to support ourselves and sometimes need the guidance to be able to develop understanding of our fears to work through troubled times. I enjoy being that supportive person to many individuals. I work with people to determine what their goals are so that they can work towards achievement. Therapy helps to organize all the thoughts in our heads to set a clear path. You are welcome to message me at any time during the day. I usually check messages two to three times a day seven days a week so that I would be readily available to respond. I also offer live chat and video sessions as well with more availability in the evenings and weekends. Check with me to see what my availability is when you are ready to schedule. Generally sessions are 30 minutes, let me know if you need more time. I look forward to working with you!

Welcome, and thank you for visiting my page. Life is complex, unpredictable, and challenging. This can result in a lot of stress, fear, and heartbreak; but it can also bring joy, beauty, and positive change. I have over ten years' experience working with people who are dealing with many of life's challenges, and it has been my privilege to assist them in finding their way from the first group of experiences to the second. I believe that people are inherently whole as they are, and that problems such as depression and anxiety happen to us, rather than being a part of who we are. My expertise is in the areas of couple relationships, LGBTQ+ clients, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. In therapy, my approach is collaborative, strength-focused, non-judgmental, and compassionate. I do not believe in using stigmatizing labels to describe my clients, but if you have a diagnosis that is helpful for you in making sense of your situation, I will always respect that. I believe that you are the expert on your life, while I am the expert on therapeutic techniques to help you with your life. I use a primarily systemic, narrative approach, with some elements of cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies in my work. Together, we will create a customized plan to address the problems you are dealing with and clear the path to your best life. It takes courage to seek change in your life, and I respect my clients for taking this important step. I look forward to working with you as you regain a sense of yourself and come to a place of empowerment.

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York with more than 6 years of experience working with individuals and families. I believe in providing care that is personalized and that focuses on an individual's specific needs. I have experience working with clients with a wide range of concerns including but not limited to depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and parenting issues. In addition, I also have experience working with people who have suffered through emotional and physical trauma. I am a warm and understanding person who believes in treating everyone with respect and compassion. My approach is holistic and incorporates a variety of therapy models including cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and solution focused therapy. I will work with you to better understand the cultural, social, and spiritual factors that impact your life and well being. Everyone goes through difficult times at some point in their lives and it takes a lot of courage to seek help. You have already taken the first and most difficult step and I hope that I can help you continue in that journey to a more fulfilling life.

HELLO! I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in New York and consider working in a counseling field my biggest passion in life. My belief is that therapy is essential in achieving success, understanding yourself and others as well as helping with individual and interpersonal challenges. I specialize in Marriage and Family therapy, couples counseling, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, anger management, bipolar and borderline personality disorder. I am a clinical fellow of The American Association of Marriage and Family, where I expand my expertise (in addition to clinical work) to optimize therapeutic services provided to my patients. Personalized approach and deep rooted care and empathy are my core values. In addition, I hold a certificate in clinical hypnotherapy, where I concentrate on applying brief, solution focused therapy, to help with a variety of issues: weight loss, chemical dependency, anxiety and phobias. I use a multitude of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, existential approach, dialectical behavioral therapy, EMDR, person-centered therapy, solution focused therapy and psychoanalysis. Each and every person is different and choosing one particular approach depends entirely on your very needs. I can assist you regain your equilibrium in life by providing you with tools you have within yourself to restore your mind, heart and life. Choosing the right fit therapist is a very delicate process that sometimes requires a lot of time. Please allow yourself to go through the process every step of the way. I am here for you.

Through improving our ability to communicate, we strengthen the bonds in our relationships. First, we must engage in honest, self-reflection by examining and distinguishing our needs and wants. Once we have gained greater self-awareness, we can then focus on communicating with our partners and family members through respectful talking, listening, and reflection. It is through improved understanding that we create fertile ground for growth and development. As both a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor I provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families. In addition, I completed training as a family specialist in LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) through WIHD (Westchester Institute for Human Development) and New York Medical College. In my 15 plus years of experience, I have counseled individuals, couples, and families regarding communication issues, parenting skills, and coping with anxiety within the family. I am trained in the areas of special needs, transition, college and careers. I am the creator of Transition Boot Camp that was featured in The Journal News and Arclight Magazine. In addition, I reserve the right to decline referrals if I feel that the client is best served by another counselor.

I am licensed in New York with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & family conflicts. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I specialize in trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, severe and persistent mental health problems, just like thousands of other therapists out there. I think my true specialty is providing an unfiltered assessment and validation--often using swear words, sarcasm, and laughter. I allow swear words (not directed toward me and not of female body parts and not sexually inappropriate) and I encourage blatant, brash honesty because I like to keep things genuine. This is not everyone's cup of tea, but I can only be me and I want you to be YOU. I am very direct and not afraid to say that a situation makes me nervous/sad/angry for you. Sometimes a tear will fall from my eye when a client tells a story and I don't feel any shame about that, no matter what they told us in school about having a poker face. All I can really give you is Maureen. One thing you can expect from me in a session is the question "What is that like for you?" This is because, as similar as we may or may not be, and as much experience I may have with similar situations, it is important to talk about YOUR unique experience of life in your own words. Once the feeling has been identified, I like to stay there and be with you as you process it. Sometimes this is a client's first experience of being present in the moment and in their life. Some clients have told me that, in the past with other therapists, they have left the session feeling worse than when they arrived. One way in which I avoid this is by making sure there is ample time to fully process feelings/trauma/experiences and ample time to build you up before the session ends. This may mean that I will look at the time and ask you if it is okay to "bookmark" that for next time. It is very important to end a session on a high note. There may be things you would like to do (or stop doing) and I want you to know that it is not my job to judge or tell you what you "should" do. On this journey, there will be successes and near-misses and sometimes things may seem pointless and hopeless. I want to be the person in your life during those times who points out when you are courageous. Courage is really the greatest tool in our toolbox. I primarily use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and this means that I zero in on the relationship between an event in your life (large or small) and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which is a combination of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness skills being taught with worksheets, diary cards, and something called a Chain Analysis where we look at events leading up to a problematic behavior. No matter what any therapist tells you their specialties and degrees are, the most important thing is your relationship with that therapist. I hope I can help you find your courage and help you create a life that is meaningful to you, possibly laughing (or shedding a tear) along the way.

I am a mental health counselor licensed in New York with over 3 years of experience working as a clinician. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, self-esteem issues, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, foster care issues, trauma, emotional abuse, OCD and ADHD. My counseling style is comforting and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach includes cognitive-behavioral, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and rational-emotive counseling. I will create a treatment plan that best meets your unique and specific needs. It takes a lot of courage and work to look to live a happy life filled with laughter and joy. Seeking assistance to help guide you in that direction is a great step to take as it shows that you want change in your life. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

I am licensed in New York with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.