Therapists in White Plains, NY

Whatever feels “off” in your life—depression, unhealthy boundaries, a dead-end career, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem—is a symptom of a larger problem: an unbalanced and under-appreciated Self. Just like a fever lets us know we have an infection, life problems let us know something deep within us isn’t right. We don’t blame the fever, we thank it for alerting us to the bigger problem. Using life’s challenges as a guide, we work together to build the foundation of self you need in order to live an enriching and fully human life. This deep work benefits not only yourself but also your loved ones and the rest of our human family.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist at IMPACT - Psychological Services, a group of doctoral-level psychologists who provide high-quality mental health care to children, adolescents, adults, parents, and families. My clinical work is holistic and trauma-informed, integrating necessary biological, cultural, systemic, and environmental factors influencing emotional distress. My approach to care is warm, collaborative, and nurturing. I specialize in issues related to trauma, grief, depression, and interpersonal/family conflict.

If all the world is a stage, do you feel like the only one who didn't get a copy of the script? Did you grow up feeling there was something fundamentally different or 'wrong' about you, something that you had to hide from the world? Do you feel you are often misunderstood in social situations, that you have to choose your words very carefully or people will misinterpret them? Do certain sounds, tastes, or textures bother you a lot? Have you had the thought 'either autistic people need to stop being so relatable, or I need to see a therapist'?

Hi! My name is E and I am a licensed clinical social worker. I have worked with a multitude of clients presenting with depression, anxiety, histories of trauma, relationship issues, family issues, & issues related to gender identity and/or sexual orientation. With a background as a speech-language pathologist, I also spent many years working in nursing homes and outpatient rehabilitation centers. I am passionate about helping people reach their goals and fullest potential, engage in relationships that feel fulfilling and healthy to them, have a deeper understanding of themselves, and to create a life that feels meaningful to them.

Defne believes in the healing power of the human connection and works to establish a safe, genuine, and compassionate environment for personal growth and change. She collaborates with her clients to come up with the best strategies to meet their unique needs. As such, she makes use of different modalities while staying rooted in a person-centered and mindfulness-based approach. She has reflected on the meaning of multiculturalism, intersectional identities, and how they interface with mental health as a queer-identified therapist who had to leave her home country with the hopes of constructing a new future.

I specialize in working with trans and queer-identifying individuals, couples, and families on issues pertaining to trauma, identity, self-esteem, relationship and communication issues, and chronic pain/disease. My clients have realized that there were issues in their life they would like to work through, but may not be able to yet fully understand the root causes and the extent of the impact of their issues. They also generally approach therapy with an understanding that often times our issues are directly related to capitalism and intersectional systems of oppression.

I work with emerging adults (ages 18-29) and professionals seeking to explore depression, anxiety, gender and sexuality, single-event, systemic and interpersonal trauma, self-esteem, creativity, and career and academic planning. We might be a good match if you often find yourself focused on the distressing feelings, body sensations, and thoughts that form in response to trauma and life’s challenges. Maybe you want to incorporate a mind/body approach to mental health, explore your attachment style, or learn new coping tools.

Each of our paths forward are nuanced, complicated, and can be difficult to navigate alone. I believe therapy is a space that can help us better understand our past experiences and relationships, and see the role they play in our current perspectives on the world and ourselves. Every client can expect to be met with compassion, warmth, and curiosity as we explore your history, identify patterns and behaviors, define boundaries, and move into growth and lasting change.

Sometimes things happen in our lives that change us in ways we couldn't predict. It might be a single event or an accumulation of experiences over time that rock our sense of stability and trust in ourselves, others, and our confidence to move through the world freely. It can feel like a never-ending battle to keep emotions in check while continuing to juggle all the complex demands of our lives. We end up feeling burnt-out, isolated, detached, and struggle with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as we attempt to manage these extremes on our own.

Are you a creative, tender soul confronted with issues of self-worth and having trouble getting your needs met? Do you strive to ensure you're liked, accepted, and approved of at the expense of expressing your authentic self or pursuing what you truly desire? Are you your own worst critic, rarely giving yourself a break from the burden of shame, blame, and guilt? I believe in our true state of being, we are all already brilliant and whole. My job therefore is not to "fix" or "cure" you, but to help you reconnect with your innate resources so you can naturally heal and grow.

Thank you for visiting my page! I offer a mixture of talk therapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, and Reiki. I take a holistic approach, see my work as a partnership, and believe that every person has the tools and wisdom within to be happy.

We all have our own negative thought patterns that impact our confidence, self-esteem, and mental health. What ideas and beliefs do you have about yourself? Perhaps those beliefs are causing you to be stressed, anxious, or depressed. Together, we can discover your unique thought patterns, become aware of their impact, and start to replace them with more motivating and positive self-talk. We can also begin to understand how your emotions show up in your body and how they might be impacting different areas of your life.

Do you feel misunderstood or unaccepted? Does it feel impossible to be your true self and be happy? Living inauthentically can lead to pain and make it hard to live a fulfilling life. We live in a tough world that forces people to “fit in” to be accepted. Deep dissatisfaction, sadness, worry and low self-esteem often result from this pressure and can make it feel next to impossible to find a path to joy and fulfillment. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I empathize deeply with these experiences. The great news is change happens and you are on your way, having taken this first step to find a therapist.

I offer my clients a nonjudgmental space where they can explore their feelings, learn more about themselves, and continue to grow. Life can often be challenging, and I like to help others feel confident in their ability to get through those tough times. I have training in cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and psychodynamic therapy. Every person is unique, and I collaborate with each client to develop a plan that is tailored to them.

It is my strong belief that the systems we navigate directly impact our mental health and well-being, and that through recognition and critical consciousness of these influences, we can radically free ourselves. My therapeutic approach borrows from Freirean thought, acknowledging that individuals are masters of their own experiences and that collaboratively we will liberate each other. I believe growing up multiracial (Chinese; White) and queer positioned me well to see how uniquely multifaceted each person is. In my therapy, we will nurture a nonjudgmental and explorative space centering your growth.

Do you ever feel lost, uncertain, or that existence is exhausting? You may be struggling with your day-to-day experiences, or the impact of past experiences. You don't need to go through this alone.