Therapists in Garment District, New York, NY

I provide individual psychotherapy to adults struggling with anxiety, depression, transitions, identity, loss, self-esteem, and relationships. I believe understanding, instead of hiding from fear and shame, provides self-acceptance and consequently relief. The ultimate goal is for you to feel empowered and free to create the life you want. My work is anti-racist, sex-positive, body-positive, poly/CNM affirming, gender affirming, feminist, and culturally responsive.

I believe that safety, creativity and collaborative give-and-take are the crucial ingredients for a successful therapy experience. This enables the patient to look at past and present difficulties within the context of a new and potentially transformative relationship. I work to create an environment where patients can get to know and tolerate knowing many parts of themselves. I approach this task with sensitivity, curiosity, humor and warmth.

Being rather busy with life's responsibilities, we often neglect to integrate certain troubling experiences; we notice but try to ignore. This may work for a while; yet, without realizing it, we expend valuable amounts of mental energy to push this "stuff" away. Soon unpleasant feelings of worry, helplessness and frustration begin to color our daily life. Working together, we will be able to take care of that "stuff" so that the mind and the body may work optimally and in harmony. You will begin to feel good again being calmer, energized and optimistic.

Are you wondering if it's possible to experience more satisfaction in your life? Have you noticed repetitive, self-defeating patterns hindering success in relationships or at work? Are you struggling with depression or anxiety? Unsure of exactly what you want for yourself? Considering therapy is the first step toward feeling better and finding fulfillment. In more than twenty-five years of practice, the transformative power of psychotherapy still impresses me. I view therapy as collaboration. Together, we will deepen your capacity for self-reflection, remove obstacles blocking you from reaching your full potential, and to finding your authentic self.

Starting therapy can be scary, but with the right therapist, it will feel just right. She believes therapy is a place where individuals can be themselves and talk about their life challenges and stressors in a safe and secure environment. Her hope is to help people of all ages, through their personal, emotional and social journeys.

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." ~Aristotle~ Talking about your struggles with your close friends and family members can be helpful. But, often, additional support and outside perspective also can help you view those issues in a new light and gain deeper understanding of your challenges. My therapeutic work focuses on what each person wants to achieve through therapy. Some strive to reduce anxiety and lift depression. Others seek therapeutic help for non-mental issues and everyday concerns such as relationships, work, low self-esteem, and dissatisfaction in life.

My clients are seeking therapy for wellness and mental health issues including depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, work stress, and self esteem issues. I have two decades of experience working with clients with diverse social and cultural backgrounds, including many musicians and artists. My role as a therapist is to help people overcome their barriers to optimal functioning. I strongly believe in recognizing everyone as holistic beings who have a multitude of capabilities. My background as a music therapist and psychoanalytic therapist is tailored to the individualized needs of my clients, for people in any profession.

As a depth oriented therapist and life coach, I offer a safe, emotionally warm, non-judgmental therapeutic space for individuals and couples to examine behavioral patterns, explore and develop strategies to issues of anxiety, depression, confidence, shame, self-worth, self-esteem, grief, life transitions, and dating. I provide a safe and warm space for men, LGBTQ, multicultural and diasporic identities to express, and process their issues and concerns. Together, we will collaborate and explore mindful ways to remove potential barriers to the marital or professional relationship, career or academic progress you can achieve.

Melissa believes in providing a comfortable and accepting environment where you can expect to receive unwavering empathy, warmth, and kindness. She truly values individual experiences and perspectives. She strives to offer a personalized and collaborative approach to promote healing and growth. Melissa maintains a focus on strengths-based practices to encourage clients to feel empowered and confident in effectively managing many of life’s greatest challenges.

**I am more accessible by email!** Therapy is a bridge of communication that fosters healing, growth & insight. It's important for clients to feel safe & to have their voice heard & truly be seen. My theoretical orientation is an integrative approach that incorporates humanistic, psychodynamic & cognitive behavioral ideologies, which allows me the flexibility to give individualized care. Clients are encouraged to develop goals they hope to accomplish; explore their thoughts & feelings & the root causes of their core beliefs; learning to challenge themselves; & create healthy coping tools to assist in their healing process.

Are you struggling in your relationship with family, a partner, or friends? Are you feeling down or have low self-esteem? Have you recently experienced a crisis, a death, or a major change? Or are you, as a couple, finding yourselves in the same pattern of arguments, looking for relief? When faced with these challenges, some of the healing power comes from being able to voice it in a safe space with the support and compassion of a therapist. I'll work with you to explore what you're going through in a warm, non-judgmental way. Because we are each built differently, I apply an eclectic approach to cater to each person's needs.

While New York City provides endless opportunities for people, it also presents a fast paced environment that can result in stress, frustration and low self esteem. Fear of failure, body image issues, racism, financial/work problems and competitiveness are stressors that I continually deal with in my practice.

If you seek a therapist who just nods his or her head, and asks: "how do you feel about that?" then I am not the right choice for you. I am a "relational" psychoanalyst who listens closely to my patient's stories, and engages in active dialogue with them. Together we form a collaborative alliance to confront and overcome your fears and anxieties. I am firmly committed to a collaborative, participatory, and holistic patient/therapist relationship. As partners, we form a trusting bond to explore the problems that interfere with your ability to live a happy and healthy life.

Healing and transformation rests on the trust and support of the therapeutic relationship. I prioritize building an authentic relationship where you feel safe to be vulnerable without judgment. I aim to help you work through the core of your issues, not just a quick fix. I specialize in body-oriented psychotherapy that includes analysis of both the mind and body to deepen your understanding of your issues and to facilitate change. Working with the body can engender more meaningful awareness, symptomatic relief and transformation.

Do you feel that you are "just getting by" or not even that? Have you been experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression or being overwhelmed? Do you feel that you and your spouse/significant other are not "connecting" in the way that you would like? Are you unable to stop self-destructive behaviors such as sexual acting out, compulsive use of pornography, alcohol or drug abuse, eating or gambling? Has a recent crisis made you feel out of control or unable to handle things as you have in the past? Feeling good is important!

Therapy can provide a path to relieving distress and gaining invaluable self awareness. I offer my patients a safe space through which they can better understand their feelings and experiences and develop skills to cope with stressors. I work predominantly as an insight-oriented therapist, understanding how the past elucidates present difficulties, but also help patients examine problematic patterns of thought or behavior when relevant. I believe in a collaborative approach to treatment, developing individualized goals with patients and regularly checking in about how they are experiencing the process of therapy.

Hello! I am a postdoctoral psychologist working with adults and older adolescents who are seeking relief from symptoms of depression and anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, compulsive thoughts and behaviors, or a sense of being disconnected from themselves or their bodies. They may wish to work through confusion about aspects of their identity, untangle from self-defeating interpersonal patterns, or heal from traumas ranging from physical and sexual abuse to invasive medical procedures. I have a special interest in women’s sexual health and wellness and can work with those interested in exploring this vital dimension of living.

You are taking an important first step by investing in yourself with therapy. Let’s understand your experiences better and work toward developing happiness. I practice psychodynamic psychotherapy; which, essentially, means that I attend to the cause and not just the symptom. You do your best to say whatever comes to mind and I do the rest! I work in the areas of depression, anxiety, identity or stage-of-life issues, illness, loss, difficulty trusting your decisions, fluctuating self-esteem, career, and relationship struggles (with family, friends, or significant others).

Anxiety, difficulty managing moods/depression, perfectionism, low self esteem, work/career stress, body image disturbance, family and relationship issues, are among the issues I work with in my practice. I see individuals, couples and families.