In what ways does your personality influence your approach to therapy?
I love to have a good time and I love making people laugh. Whether I'm working with an adult or a child, I have found that humor can go a long way in making connections and helping clients feel comfortable with me. While I know that not everyone is in a position to appreciate humor, depending on what they are going through, I believe that everyone has the ability to appreciate humor at some point in their life. It might not be now, but when I see that the client is ready, I love to infuse humor into my therapy sessions. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine!
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
When I was in college, I majored in Psychology, with the intention of eventually going to graduate school to get a degree in School Psychology. However, during my junior and senior years of college, I had the opportunity to intern at a school for adolescents with behavioral problems. The social worker at the school, Mr. David, was my mentor. I loved the way he responded to the students and the way they responded to him. I also loved that the students sought him out when they needed help or advice. I began doing research into the field of Social Work, and discovered that I could get my degree in this field and put my love of helping people to good use. I also began to realize that if I majored in school psychology, I'd be limited in the types of jobs I could get upon graduation, whereas I realized that there was a great deal of career flexibility with a degree in social work.
How does collaboration with other providers play into your work?
Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to collaborate with psychiatrists, music therapists, art therapists, psychiatric nurses, other social workers, and providers from other disciplines. The wonderful thing about collaboration is the learning opportunities it provides. All providers have something special to offer their clients, and I've found that most providers are more than happy to share their skills and expertise with colleagues. I love to collaborate when I'm feeling stuck. Talking over an issue with another provider, whether it be a social worker, a psychiatrist, etc, allows me to feel confident in giving my clients the very best treatment.
Specialties
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Abuse/Survivors of abuse
Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.
Mood disorders
Mood disorder is a broad term used to include the different types of depressive and bipolar disorders, all of which affect mood. With a mood disorder, your moods may range from extremely low to extremely high or irritable.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that is precipitated by a perceived terrifying event. This event need not occur directly to the person but may happen vicariously—having seen something terrible happen to another person. The condition may last months or years while symptoms include ruminating thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety when triggered, and potential substance abuse in attempt to cope.
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders are characterized by a disconnect from reality that stems from maladaptive thinking and perceptions. Primary symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Common psychotic disorders include brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, paraphrenia, psychotic disorder due to a medical condition, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and substance-induced psychotic disorder.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Loss/Grief
Grief is a reaction to an emotionally significant loss and often comes with symptoms of depression or anxiety. These symptoms can remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, making it difficult to move forward with a healthy lifestyle.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by persistent instability in relationships, extreme emotional reactions, and chronic fear of abandonment. People with this may also tend to be moody, experiencing a lot of high highs and low lows.
Race & Cultural Identity
Challenges around race and cultural identity vary enormously, including issues related to discrimination, racism, and intergenerational trauma.
Academic challenges
Concerns that impact school performance or academic life. Can include perfectionism, bullying, financial stress, academic transitions, test anxiety, balancing school with other responsibilities, discrimination, or harassment.
In-Network Insurance
Aetna
All Savers Insurance
Nippon Life Insurance Company of America
Optum
United Healthcare
United Medical Resources
Fees
$100
First Session
$150
Couples Therapy
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Children (5-12)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Play Therapy
Training / Certifications
Permanent School Social Worker Certificate, Sate of New York
Licensure
NY, LCSW, 079396
Education
Master's Degree, Social Work, Fordham University
Bachelor's Degree, Psychology, Binghamton University
Work History
Throughout my professional career, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide array of clientele. I started out my career working at an agency called Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY). I worked on multiple teams while I was there. The first team I worked on was the Geriatric Crisis Team; I had the opportunity to provide home visits and counseling to a geriatric population suffering from loss, bereavement, PTSD, depression and dementia. I also worked with the agency's Mobile Crisis Team (MCT). While working on this team, I had the opportunity to evaluate and treat adults who were in the midst of a psychiatric emergency. I was also able to determine what course of treatment would be helpful, whether it be an emergency room or another mental health provider. My next job was working in an outpatient mental health clinic that was affiliated with a busy hospital in the Bronx, NY. I carried a caseload of over 70 clients, and was responsible for providing individual and group counseling. The clients I worked with carried many different diagnoses, including depression, schizophrenia, PTSD and personality disorders. I was responsible for treatment plans and at times, acted as a liaison between the patients and their psychiatrists. My current job is in a public school in the South Bronx, New York City. I work with children aged 4-10 who have Individualized Education Plans (IEP's) and who need counseling as part of their mandated services. My children have anger disorders, attachment disorders and mood disorders. Additionally, many of them are in foster care and/or temporary housing. \
Location
Remote Therapist, YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, 10598, NY