Psychoanalytic Therapists in Mill Neck, NY

Relationships are at the core of our being. They enrich our daily lives, fuel new experiences, and are one of the most important ways we come to know ourselves. All of us feel the need to belong and connect with others; we strive to be accepted in ways that feel genuine, meaningful and satisfying. Unhealthy relationships can take their toll, but good relationships improve all aspects of life, strengthening health, mind, and connections with others. However, all relationships can fall off track and go through periods of conflict, or be impacted by trauma, which may lead us to feel frustrated, stuck, dissatisfied, and/or frightened.

I specialize in working with individuals who are experiencing the stress of navigating the varied and complex expectations life demands of us. Depression, anxiety, self-esteem and relationship issues, can become a hindrance to living a life that feels authentic to you. I understand the challenges of meeting the needs of others while attempting to center yourself in a world that can feel isolating and unrelenting. This is a relationship we build together in the quiet space between the loud and overwhelming moments.

Have you or family members been faced with obstacles that have caused you to lose hope and courage? You may be feeling uninspired and do not believe you have the capability to be optimistic and patient. Perhaps there are internal battles to get through the day without breaking down. When working with a therapist that is "the right fit" in an environment that is "safe and supportive" I believe you can develop the physical and emotional strength to work through your struggles. In an interactive/ collaborative way we will work to make positive changes to improve your life and relationships.

I provide unconditional positive regard, genuineness, empathy, support, and strength perspective based care for my clients. I believe we all have the potential to meet our goals and to thrive personally and professionally. My treatment is aimed at helping my clients explore and confront life's issues, process related feelings, identify options and resources, and learn new skills to manage and cope with their lives. During this process, I provide my clients with needed support and hope to create change.

LIFE IS WONDERFUL and can also THROW CURVEBALLS. As a therapist I am available to see people wanting a calm space to talk about the events and feelings that are unsettling them. I enjoy meeting with my patients and work collaboratively and respectfully with them on a variety of difficulties in living. At some point in anyone’s life there may be overwhelming or traumatic experiences, relationships that are difficult to manage, whether it’s figuring out how to handle romantic uncertainty, fertility issues, raising children, separation or divorce.

When patients feel unable to move outside of their 'comfort zones' they begin to experience frustration and hopelessness. Understanding and altering these patterns promotes lasting change. My years of experience have made me comfortable with others and have given me a great deal of hope and passion for the process and benefits of psychotherapy.

As an experienced and dedicated mental health clinician I take pride in providing a genuine and compassionate environment for my patients. I am highly committed to the success and well-being of every individual who walks in through our doors. My goal is to provide a safe space and healing for patients to work through their issues and I do so with a deep level of compassion towards each and every individual. I have experience in both clinical and non-profit based work with diagnoses varying from anxiety and depressive disorders, mood disorders, to trauma afflicted individuals with both acute and complex levels of trauma.

I have over 25 years of experience helping clients heal from anxiety, depression, grief, low self esteem, trauma, including PTSD and relational trauma, relationship challenges and self destructive tendencies. We will work together to understand how the challenges you are experiencing impact you, and how you can heal most effectively. Each client has a different way of healing, and so I customize my approach based on your individual needs. The approaches I use are trauma recovery, psychodynamic, sensorimotor, mindfulness, and AEDP among others. I am LGBTQ affirming and welcome clients of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.

I am direct and focused on the issues that my patients bring to me. My 36 years of experience with children and parents afford me great advantage over those who have had no experience within school districts. In addition, my years of concurrent psychoanalytic training and social work have further sensitized me to allow me to help patients with all their major life issues. I am dedicated to my practice of adults, teens and children whom I help with all their problems that life brings.

I am here for YOU, with almost a decade of experience. I want you to feel at ease and comfortable with my approachable style. I have a results-driven record of being effective and efficient. Depending on your specific struggles and circumstances, I will design a personalized approach. Various types of psychotherapy will be customized specifically for you. These include: EMDR for trauma, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy based on Psychoanalytic Principles and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy related approaches, etc. Please visit: www.zocdoc.com/professional/samya-sammy-touma-lcsw-431236 for more details.

What is child therapy? Do children sit and talk over their problems like adults do? How do I know if my child needs professional help? And, what kind of therapist is best suited for my child? Most adults have a hard time understanding that children, especially very young children, can be in need of psychotherapy. In my private practice, where I specialize in the treatment of children and adolescents, parents bring children of all ages to me with a variety of reasons for their anxiety or depression. School related issues are quite common. Children who struggle with learning and attention deficit issues are prone to lowered self-esteem, often accompanied by behavior issues at home or in school. These children may also have developed problems making friends. Other children I see are feeling the effects of a transition or loss within the family. This could pertain to an illness, death, separation or divorce of parents, even the result of a parent's depression.

You are smart and sensitive...sometimes the world is just too much to make sense of. Not sure how to tell if you are anxious, depressed, over reacting or something else? Something’s wrong, but you don't know what it is. I will help you figure it out. Through an integrative approach of talking and mindfulness techniques developed over 40 years we work together to accurately identify your issues and with deep understanding find inner control of the root emotions that are causing difficulties.

Life happens and challenges arise. Have you experienced a significant loss? Are you feeling anxious or depressed? Maybe you're experiencing uncomfortable levels of stress in certain personal or work relationships. Maybe it's old stuff; issues of childhood that have an impact now, or a traumatic event that hasn't healed. Perhaps you feel stuck in a pattern of being or feeling, and need to find a new way. Partnering with a trained psychotherapist who understands the nature of these issues can help. When you learn more about yourself by sorting through your thoughts & emotions, it can often lead to a more satisfying & meaningful life.

Our therapy style is rooted in personal connection, trust, and open dialogue. We specialize in an individualized model of therapy, customizing therapeutic sessions and strategies to each client. Through out sessions, clients are set-up to achieve their goals, both personally and professionally. We provide clients with a safe and trusting environment designed to improve coping skills, insight, and self-awareness.

My years in practice and in the world have taught me that therapy is a journey shared by both the therapist and the client. The key to success is an active curiosity, careful listening and a non-judgmental attitude. Creating a safe environment based on mutual respect is the starting point of any successful journey. Our goal is to understand your thoughts and feelings to help you achieve more control over your life. We will identify and work through those issues that stand in the way of fulfilling your dreams.

The enormous number of stressors we face daily are intense these days: politics, the economy, the climate, global unrest, overwork, isolation, disconnection. All of this is tremendously difficult to manage on one's own. Anxiety, anger, depression, resentment, boredom; sadness, rage, exhaustion, denial. If you're struggling with any of this - or any other states that often bring people to therapy, like emptiness, grief, feeling lost or overwhelmed, relationship issues, lack of direction - it's worth investing the time and effort to get help, get grounded, and find a better path forward.