Buddhist Therapists in New York, NY

First session is always free of charge. If you are feeling stuck you have come to the right place! With 15+ years experience as a therapist my solution-focused approach is aimed to help you heal what needs to be healed and learn what needs to be learned so that you are not merely surviving but thriving and loving life, and sooner than you might think! I provide individual and/or relationship counseling. My warm, affirming, and supportive approach is a union of holistic and integrative Eastern philosophies wed with contemporary Western solution-focused psychotherapy modalities.

I have come to accept that the very thing that causes pain in our lives can be the opportunity for transformation and joy. Death, divorce, loss of employment, and now with Covid-19, are unavoidable human traumas. We simply can not defeat these losses. What we can do is bravely embrace our frailty and slowly discover our inherent well-being and resiliency. Through a trusting therapeutic relationship, you can begin to mend the fragments and feel the soft strength within you.

As a practitioner I seek to assist my clients to begin to shed the layers of the their cocoon, and accept themselves as whole people. I utilize mindfulness techniques, somatic awareness, meditation, attachment and experiential psychotherapy. I encourage clients to stay with their feelings in the here and now, and ask them to accept and honor the present moment with all its feelings rather than exiling or "fixing" their feelings.

I’m Dr. Shielagh Hochberg, clinical psychologist in Naples, Florida. With a PhD in clinical psychology, I'm licensed in Florida & New York. With many years of experience treating anxiety, trauma, stress & grief, I can help you learn to take better care of yourself. Since the pandemic, many have lost a sense of direction. Our lives have changed. Some are ready for change, others fight change fiercely. As we age health and related decisions may become priorities. Whatever challenges you face, a skilled clinician can help you get through it. As a Jewish therapist practicing Buddhist meditation, I bring a unique perspective to the work.

My approach to supporting others to heal, grow, and better cope with life challenges and transitions incorporates awareness-building, cultivating acceptance and compassion, and providing a space that invites the possibility of exploring new ways of being. These elements empower individuals to take ownership of how they choose to create their lives and to find greater wellbeing and fulfillment. We often do not realize that the very habits and behaviors that cause us to feel stuck or block us from having what we want were necessary tools for survival at some point in our lives. Understanding such patterns is an important step.

Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis can be instrumental in enhancing your self esteem, quieting depressive thoughts, unlocking your creativity, improving your relationships and helping you lead a happier, more fulfilling life. I lean toward a self-psychological approach that centers on mutuality, self inquiry and empathic encounter. I work with clients from all walks of life, including academics, artists, writers, executives, couples, people going through important life transitions, and people of different faiths, be it buddhist , christian or secular-spiritual. I also work with children. One of my specialties is giftedness, at any age.

As a Buddhist psychotherapist, I am radically optimistic about human beings' innate potential for growth and development. With the right ingredients, including a good match between patient and therapist, transformation is definitely possible.

Tracey Gundel, LCSW-R has 20 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Her background includes senior psychotherapist positions to Clinical Director of a New York City mental health clinic. Though specializing in anxiety, depression and ADHD, Tracey’s extensive mental health experience gives her the know-how and dexterity to meet all your mental health needs. Her style is supportive and collaborative.

Jenna Sackman is a holistic and integrative therapist who specializes in working with adults, young adults and teens. Her areas of expertise are anxiety/stress, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, loss/grief, depression, life transitions and intrusive thoughts. Most clients choose to work with her because they're looking for concrete skills to improve their everyday lives and/or address specific concerns. Jenna understands that therapy is a huge investment, and she, too, is fully invested in providing her clients with the skills and tools to successfully navigate through life and to realize significant and observable change.

I believe that therapy can develop non-judgmental awareness of what is in the present, of thoughts and feelings that are based on conditioned reactions from the past, and of the ability to then cultivate the inner freedom that allows each client to move into a future grounded in experience and directed at a positive and compassionate understanding of self and others. Developing the ability to be aware is a practice that each client learns and practices according to their presenting needs, interests, and learning styles. There is no ideal client, there is only the commitment to practice awareness and find freedom from the past.

It is in my belief that we are all intrinsically whole, deserving and worthy of love and meaningful connections. However, somewhere along the way we have incurred pain and hurtful experiences that have tainted our story and lens of how we see the world and ourselves. Sometimes the narrative runs so deep that we can’t stop the thoughts and feelings that flow continuously. In this way, everyday feels like a struggle. Perhaps you secretly feel lost and lonely or you struggle with feelings of anxiety, insecurity or sadness and are uncertain about how to navigate the complexity of your emotions. Wherever you are - your story matters.

I am a psychotherapist who specializes in the gentle process of discovery, opening and the release of unwanted feelings, stuck and frozen places inside of you, and trauma. In working with your unique history, I help you find your own self regulation and self empowerment around areas in your life that trigger, low self esteem, unresolved issues, difficult emotions, depression, anxiety, rage and unwanted behaviors. I create a safe space for clients to bring their issues and problems.

No matter how fortunate you may be, still human life is difficult. Despite your best efforts, at times life's stresses can be too much: you may be overwhelmed. Hurt, fear, guilt, anger, shame, grief: feeling bad can alert you to where the trouble lies, or add to your emotional burdens. Confusion, isolation, loneliness, restlessness, worry, despair, or addictive attempts to find relief - all of these painful states are attempts to ward off problems or fix what's wrong, but they can also make things worse.

Are you struggling with finding ways to cope with life stressors, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and constant mind games? It is normal and natural to seek help, and space that I provide for my clients in my sessions is your road to fulfilling balanced life. My Buddhist background influences the holistic therapy approach that emphasizes person’s strengths, unique coping skills and promotes a harmonious well-being. I use several therapeutic modalities including but not limited to Mindfulness, ACT, Energy focused therapy. Start this beautiful journey to remember who you truly are, I can guide you there.

Do you often have the sense you're not in charge of your own life? In overwhelm? I believe difficulties in living are a sign we've outgrown certain habits, behaviors or views. What may have helped us survive in the past doesn't help us flourish in the here and now. So, we find ourselves stuck - in a painful relationship, an unsatisfying job situation, or with unpleasant physical symptoms of anxiety or depression. Our suffering may be a great awakener, calling us out of the sleep of unconsciousness, asking us what it is we really want. I provide a sensitive, warm spaciousness that invites your whole self to address that question.

Therapy often goes into areas that were likely too difficult to look at on one’s own. People have different methods of avoiding this discomfort: drugs, engagement in risky or soul-emptying sexual practices, over-working, over-eating, over-thinking. Even yoga and meditation can deceptively serve to block out pain under the guise of “being in the moment.” Rather than encourage clients to aggressively get rid of these methods, I help them gently explore the pain or fear that made such habits necessary. I pay careful attention to ensure that clients feel safe to go through this vulnerable experience--and come out on the other side.

It can be difficult processing who we are, what we have experienced, and how we should move forward in the face of adversity. While working collaboratively, I welcome individuals to share their story unapologetically and unpack these life experiences. I work to build a caring collaboration that aims to empower and uplift while fostering safety and trust. I offer an affirming, safe space for people who identify as a POC and/or LGBTQIA+ to explore their identities holistically and deconstruct their own narrative within a larger system. Together, we can create a plan with your specific needs and goals in mind.