Couples Counseling Therapists in Northport, NY

Erika Valencia is a bilingual licensed social worker presently working as a Mental Health Therapist. Erika received her master’s degree from NYU Silver School of Social Work in 2016. Erika is certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), which is a relationship -based intervention that helps children and their families heal from trauma. Currently, Erika is the owner of Mindfully Life and continues to utilize her professional experience to help individuals and families overcome obstacles by discovering and strengthening their internal sources.

I have worked as a Psychotherapist/Psychoanalyst for almost 45 years. My work is based on understanding our behavior and I communicate that to the person or couple I am working with. I am actively engaged and use a variety of approaches, depending on the individual or situation. I also have had years of experience as a School Social Worker with the NYC school system, working with students who have academic, emotional, and or behavioral issues. I prefer working with parents on how to better understand and adjust to who their children are. I also specialize in working with couples focusing on awareness of issues of their disharmony.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Northport, Long Island, New York. I offer psychotherapeutic services for individuals, specializing in working with adults who seek support for depression, anxiety, trauma and relationship challenges, including narcissistic abuse.

I understand the vulnerability of bringing the intimacies of your inner and outer world to another human being. And finding the “right” therapist is often a source of additional angst. The good news is that I have trained extensively to provide the safe and healing “holding space,” for you to come as you are, without fear of judgment. I will meet you with skill, understanding, and strategies to address current, past and/or future challenges. My typical client is high-functioning, but struggling in some aspect of life with issues like anxiety, low mood, unresolved trauma, or relationships. Congratulations on taking the first step!

In my work with individuals, couples and families, my goal is to help you to achieve your highest potential. I enjoy working with people who are introspective, who are willing and interested in looking into themselves, and to exploring ways to understand themselves and to improve their lives. I see myself as a guide and as a mentor. Please come here for yourself and because you truly want to be here.

I work with many clients from many different backgrounds and cultures. My priority and number one goal is to enhance their lives and over all psychological functioning and wellbeing. I am not here to fix you, as you are not broken. My main goal is to help every single client to actualize and become the best version of themselves. I approach each client as an individual, with respect, dignity, and sensitivity. I view myself as working alongside each client towards creating more fulfilling opportunities, while reducing long standing negative behaviors, feelings, and thought patterns.

You can feel better. I have been in private practice for 25 years and practiced for many more years in a variety of other settings including a psychiatric hospital. There, I did teaching, clinical supervision of psychologists, group and individual therapy, and forensic psychology. I am trained in, and use a variety of methods and philosophies in the field as I have found that flexibility in approaching the diverse people I see is necessary. I work with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and self esteem. I have experience with substance abuse and anger issues, and well as with life adjustment problems.

Change and growth are tough. My goal as your therapist is to aide you to move from being stuck in your life to creating a life that is in alignment with your true self. I would be honored to assist you and/or your child in gaining the skills and insight necessary for your growth.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and I will help you find yours. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive inpatient and outpatient experience. I enjoy working with all age groups in individual and group settings. I work together with my clients to establish collaborative and individualized treatment goals. I specialize in mood disorders, anxiety, stress management, and relationship issues. I also have experience running groups for both parents and children coping with the pressures and stresses of parental separation/divorce.

Are you anxious more than ever, feeling “off” or “not like yourself” lately, facing relationship issues, or maybe you’re tired of holding everything in and ready to talk to someone? If you answered yes to any, you’ve come to the right place. In our sessions you will find that therapy is a meaningful conversation that takes place in a safe, collaborative, and nonjudgemental space where YOU set the pace and where we can identify conflict and options, make efforts toward self-growth, and pursue paths of change. My goal is to help you uncover your own motivation to change and empower you to be confident in the decisions you make.

I have advanced post graduate training and over thirty years of experience as a Psychiatric Social Worker, therapist and supervisor. Caring, empathetic and professional treatment is tailored to the individual's or couples ' needs. I believe we all have the resources available to deal with life's challenges but that they have to be tapped at times of need. I enjoy working with individuals and couples and believe that becoming a therapist is a calling; this shows in my work. If I cannot help you I can refer you to someone who can.

Limited availability for new patients. The enormous number of stressors we now face daily are unreal: politics, inflation, war, heat, pandemic fatigue, despair, disconnection, on and on. All of this is tremendously difficult to manage on one's own. Anxiety, anger, depression, resentment, boredom. Zombie states, exhaustion, sadness, rage, denial. If you are struggling with any of this - or any of the other states that often bring people to therapy, like emptiness, grief, rigidity, feeling lost or overwhelmed, relationship issues - it's worth investing the time and effort to get help, get grounded and figure things out.

I am a Psychologist in private practice working with individuals and couples , adolescents and adults. I have worked in many different clinical settings since 1968 and, for 37 years of private practice, have worked with a range of difficulties involving anxiety, depression, addictions, abuse, obsessions, parenting, trauma and PTSD, personality disorders and psychosis. One specialty has been using psychological testing to get a more accurate and detailed diagnostic picture of the issues, as just having a diagnosis is not enough and can result in misunderstanding and poor treatment.

If you are seeking couples counseling , or if you are a parent who wants help developing new parenting strategies, I have the skills and experience to help. Pre-adoption psychological evaluations are one of my specialties, as are parenting consultations for parents of adopted children. I have specific experience with stress management, college student mental health issues, and LGBTQIA issues including couples counseling . I also enjoy working with women who are struggling with relationship issues, work/life balance, or childhood traumas.

I am a psychodynamic clinical social worker interested and experienced in working with individuals (ages 18-75), couples and families facing life transitions. My preferred method of practice is goal oriented with an emphasis on self-awareness and self-acceptance. Through clarity of goals, I'll guide you through any life transitions to identify priorities and values and assist to bring the courage to change to the surface of your life so that you can live in harmony and balance.

We take the greatest pride in ensuring that no individual is left stranded without access to care by always responding to new patient inquiries immediately and accommodating the financial needs of our clients.  The well-being of our clients and the individuals of the communities we serve are our top priority.  No person should have to be without a supportive professional when they find themselves in a situation where reaching out for help is of the utmost importance.