Hello my name is Mary Kay and I am honored that you have taken the opportunity to seek online counseling through BetterHelp. We all sometimes need to seek guidance from another as we navigate through a traumatic life event, difficult life transition, or when we just feel "in a funk"/need an extra boost, inspiration, and/or motivation.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist (LCSW) in both California and New York States. I have over 25 years experience in the field of counseling and mental health. I have a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work Clinical Counseling from Columbia University in New York.
From a very young age, I have always had a gift for healing, listening, soothing and comforting others which I been able to channel into a life long career. My areas of specialties include treating: trauma, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, healthy and positive parenting issues, PTSD, relational intimacy/couples issues, career guidance, and motivational coaching, among others.
My approach to counseling and style within the sessions is based on Strength Based, Cognitive-Behavioral , mixed with Psycho-dynamic techniques. What this means, is that I am a neutral objective nonjudgmental "witness", of whom motivates, listens, validates, soothes, and encourage you on your life path. Most therapists do not "tell a client what to do". Instead I will help you to come up with the answers, choices and decisions from within yourself. I have a warm, kind and empathic counseling approach focused on getting to know your story, helping you to stabilize emotions, self-soothe, and challenge unhelpful core beliefs and cognitive distortions.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Body image, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
CA LCSW 21199
NY LCSW 075755
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Mary Kay Zayani. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Mary Kay has such an intuitive sense about things. She understands trauma, family and relationship dynamics, communication styles and unconscious motivations/behaviors (among other things,) so thoroughly and has helped me deepen my own understanding of these as they pertain to me. She breaks down even the smallest details that matter to me to help reveal the bigger picture. I feel I have developed not only healthier and more accurate perspectives but more confidence overall as a result of new awareness, boundaries, coping strategies and other tools that have helped me navigate some of my most difficult challenges.
Written on Nov 28, 2020 after therapy with Mary Kay for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd