Interpersonal Therapists in Water Mill, NY

Do you feel like you’re always dealing with anxiety? Are you frustrated trying to manage day-to-day stress? Do you feel overwhelmed because of mood swings? Are you worried all the time? Stress and anxiety can be debilitating and affect our lives and interpersonal relationships in negative ways. Thankfully, there are many ways to treat anxiety and stress.

If you’re looking to have the space to explore issues and experiences that have impacted your life, I may be a good fit for you! I work with individuals struggling to navigate mood disorders, anxiety, history of trauma, and interpersonal distress. Additionally, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have first-hand experience with the challenges and fears that come with developing, growing, and accepting your identity. I believe healing can happen through processing your experiences and receiving empathy, support, and honest feedback.

I work with individuals, couples and groups, dealing with issues of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and assertiveness. These people often have problems in their work or interpersonal relationships. I help them to strengthen their communication skills as well gain insight into the dysfunctional behaviors that cause them to be unsuccessful. I am interested in how childhood traumas and old family patterns continue to haunt people in their present lives.

People come to me with emotionally painful life issues and conflicts. I work with individuals who are curious about gaining insight into their minds in order to lead happier and more productive lives.

If you're affected by daily stresses of life, significant issues related to depression, anxiety or interpersonal relationships, I am a New York licensed psychologist and certified psychoanalyst that will help you resolve these problems. Clients gain insight into what's troubling them so that they can manage their issues more effectively. I work in an intimate setting, situated in a comfortable environment overlooking a private garden. It is a safe and confidential space. I work with people who are having difficulty developing and or maintaining significant relationships, experiencing depression, anxiety, low self esteem, feelings of being unlovable, or "just getting by" rather than thriving.

I am a psychotherapist with over 20 years of clinical experience working with adults age 20 and older, and specializing in treating people over age 65. I trained at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) in New York City, and worked there for 9 years before relocating my practice to East Hampton.

I am a multicultural, holistic, trauma-informed, LGBT+ affirmative therapist and a core believer in resiliency of human spirit. Though you may consider me as the professional/expert, you are the expert of your lived experiences. I strongly believe that the client has a right to both be a recipient as well as an influencer within the therapeutic relationship. My job as a therapist is to act as guide while you are empowered to tackle both inner and outer barriers. I aim to hold a space for those who may not have access to any other arenas to feel heard and understood.

Your thoughts are racing, stuck on replay. Your inner critic is winning. Life feels meaningless and exhausting. You want to escape reality. Feeling scared of vulnerability and hiding who you really are is wearing on you. Your relationships are draining. It feels like you're carrying around a body bag full of fears and insecurities. Feeling like a prisoner to your past is exhausting, too. Let’s face it: feeling confused, lost, and stuck has gotten old. Fortunately, you've come to the right place. Therapy can help. Life can be hard and feel overwhelming at times, but you don't have to live in pain.

My goal is to help people feel and function better in love, work, play and inner peace. Life is often challenging and stressful. Sometimes we feel lost. Most of us engage in self-defeating beliefs, patterns and behaviors which leads to unhappiness and life dissatisfaction. The goal of therapy is to change these negative ways of feeling and being. When I have asked clients what has been most helpful in therapy, the most common response is " You helped me see things from a new perspective, which ultimately led to positive changes in how I think, feel, behave and relate to others".

I work with young adults and adults individually and with couples, who are eager to resolve internal/external conflicts and understand themselves better. My clients typically struggle with depression, anxiety, relationship or personality issues, low self esteem. During therapy, we explore how you process your life experiences and the ways that you might be creating obstacles to your personal growth. Together we look at patterns of behavior that are maladaptive and focus on how to make changes. I encourage you to express creativity. A therapy session with me is an active conversation: direct, focused, and compassionate.

Change and transformation are a constant, inevitable and ongoing part of life. We all have the potential to make shifts in our patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviors. Through our deep conversations, I will help you to create new perspectives, habits and healthy coping skills to get through your life challenges. You'll become more aware of your inner dialogue and thoughts, gain insight and practice making shifts in thinking that will improve your life and relationships. Therapy is a process of self discovery, growth, healing, the development of your strengths, as well as the releasing that which no longer serves you.

If you feel lost, confused or hopeless about your life or your relationships, you can turn things around. You can get clear about these problems, and find solutions. You can have a life that more authentically fits who you really are. You can manage your relationships so they begin to feel warm and fun again. When you're suffering and feeling awful, it may be hard to believe that there are things you can do to feel good again. It may also be hard to believe that you can find the power to shift and revive painful relationships.

I believe in the ability of all people to make changes in their lives for the better. Within the therapeutic relationship, I believe that we are partners - learning together and walking together down the road to wellness. I am not the expert on you and I don't strive to be. I believe that a positive working relationship between therapist and client is essential to the process of change, and that starts with unconditional positive regard. I look forward to working with you - talking with you and to you, rather than at you.

Therapy can help you work through problems that feel too big or overwhelming to tackle alone. Together, in a warm and confidential space, we can begin to explore what is making you feel anxious or stuck without judgement or fear. In therapy with me, you will be seen as an individual person with unique desires and experiences, not a collection of symptoms or issues. In session, you can expect liveliness and candor as we discuss the things you wish to explore: relationships, work, worries, goals and sense of self.

Seeking help opens the door of hope. As a psychologist and helping professional, I strive to make clients feel deeply listened to and seen by a caring person. A thorough understanding of where the other person is coming from and the fulfillment that comes when we reach that point of deep connection are priceless. My focus is on the client’s strengths and reframing problems to help inspire growth as I believe that positive lifestyle changes promote healing, optimal functioning, and wellness.

I treat individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, grief or a general sense of being stuck. I add to my over 25 years of experience various healing approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, talk therapy, dream analysis, journaling and other modalities in our work to find re-newed meaning and purpose in life. As a team we explore methods for bringing symptom relief and understanding of the root causes of your problems. I also counsel couples who find their connection damaged. I provide a neutral space for exploring causes of the problems and offer tools for effective communication and healing in the relationship.

Ms. Rivela,LCSW has been in the social work profession for over 25 years with emphasis in behavioral health, technology in behavioral health care, and social work research and education. She has worked as both a direct practice provider and a behavioral health administrator including psychiatric social worker, outpatient clinic director, administrator for state-wide and county behavioral health programs, as well as adjunct faculty for Masters of Social Work students. She is a graduate of Adelphi University with both a Bachelors of Arts in Social Science and a Master of Social Work as well as an Associate in Applied Science in Music.