I am a licensed clinical social worker living and practicing in New York City for over 4 years. I have helped clients with a broad range of concerns including anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, grief, loss and living with chronic illness. I completed a masters degree in Social Work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After my studies, I started my career working as a hospital social worker in various areas of care including the emergency department, intensive care unit, oncology and transplant services. I have had the opportunity to live and work in various regions of the United States, including the Mountain West, West Coast and East Coast. This experience has given me the ability to understand a vast array of demographics. I come from a multicultural family and understand the dynamics of growing up in ethic diversity. I enjoy the combination of urban city living and outdoor recreation and love to surf. My approach to therapy is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and focuses on using techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness. As your therapist, it is my goal to form a trusting relationship and provide you with a safe environment to explore emotions, identify things that you'd like to improve in your life and work together to achieve your goals. I look forward to working with you.

I am licensed in New York with 36 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, anger management, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am a licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New York with over 18 years of experience working as a therapist and life coach. I've worked in many different settings with individuals and families who have a variety of personal issues such as depression/anxiety, stress, family problems, trauma/abuse, relationships/parenting and more. My counseling style is open, respectful and interactive. I believe in treating anyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I believe we all need help at times. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, client- centered, and Trauma focused counseling. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

Welcome to BetterHelp, if you are reaching out for help it shows your are interested in recovering your life and starting to work toward solutions to challenges. My name is Michelle Defino, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 12 years experience. I graduated from Binghamton University in 2008 and have worked primarily worked with substance abuse/co-occurring clients. I have worked with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, bi-polar and other more severe mental illness. I have worked with a Federal Re-entry Substance Abuse Program for the last 3 years. I use many forms of therapy to meet the needs of my clients including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution focused. I use these modalities to help to change thinking and behaviors that lead to many of the issues in daily life. Another modality I use is mindfulness to increase focus and concentration. I realize how difficult it can be to ask for assistance and how important it is for you and I am looking forward to working with you and helping you to gain the life you are hoping for. I will consider different ways to work with you, however prefer video, since we will be able to see and get to know each other easier. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you.

Born and raised in former Soviet Union, Ukraine, I immigrated to the United States right after my graduation from a music college. Music and psychology were always my passion! After settling in New York, I got my BA at Mercy College and Master’s degree at Hunter College. I was licensed as a Clinical Social Worker after several years of working in a mental health field. I’ve experienced challenges in my life as an immigrant, female, mother, business woman, etc. ... and I enjoy working with my patients, who have challenges of their own.

I am a mental health counselor licensed in New York with over 25 years of experience working as a therapist with an emphasis on Christian counseling. I have worked with clients having a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, family and relationship issues and PTSD. I have worked with a diverse population of all ages. I have helped the people who have taken that extra step and sought assistance with life's trials by listening and allowing the individual themselves to work towards their goals with the support that is needed. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach is client centered, solution focused, and Christian based. I practice active listening with treatment focused on specific needs The courage it takes to reach out for help is just the first step on a journey towards the changes necessary to have a fulfilling and contented life. I look forward to working with you.

Human beings suffer. There's no getting around it. It's a fact of life. People suffer from anxiety, depression, relationship/intimacy conflicts, various forms of addictions, low self-esteem, career-related concerns, grieving loss and from the vicissitudes of life transitions. How can a therapist guide you from a place of discomfort and discontent to a place of relative peace of mind? I offer a particular kind of relationship (a therapeutic reliance) that enables you to better understand yourself and to gain distance/perspective about your distress as well as leading to insight that translates to change. I work to help you to see that some of the strategies you've been using to live your life have not really resulted in you getting the things you most value most in life. Therapy is about putting these dysfunctional strategies under a microscope and, together, constructing a new way to "do" your life. The tools you get to implement these new strategies will help you to navigate the inevitable obstacles you'll come across in your day-to-day living towards the achievement of your goals. The result of a successful period of psychotherapy is that the individual achieves more stability in his/her work and relationship life as well as feeling more satisfaction and contentment about himself and his life. I am particularly experienced and trained in the area of addictions, both substance abuse and "process" addictions - sex, porn, shopping, gambling. I am published and interviewed by major media about cybersex addiction and am considered to be an expert in "kink friendly" therapy, having been interviewed in a British HBO show about sadomasochism.

I specialize in trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, severe and persistent mental health problems, just like thousands of other therapists out there. I think my true specialty is providing an unfiltered assessment and validation--often using swear words, sarcasm, and laughter. I allow swear words (not directed toward me and not of female body parts and not sexually inappropriate) and I encourage blatant, brash honesty because I like to keep things genuine. This is not everyone's cup of tea, but I can only be me and I want you to be YOU. I am very direct and not afraid to say that a situation makes me nervous/sad/angry for you. Sometimes a tear will fall from my eye when a client tells a story and I don't feel any shame about that, no matter what they told us in school about having a poker face. All I can really give you is Maureen. One thing you can expect from me in a session is the question "What is that like for you?" This is because, as similar as we may or may not be, and as much experience I may have with similar situations, it is important to talk about YOUR unique experience of life in your own words. Once the feeling has been identified, I like to stay there and be with you as you process it. Sometimes this is a client's first experience of being present in the moment and in their life. Some clients have told me that, in the past with other therapists, they have left the session feeling worse than when they arrived. One way in which I avoid this is by making sure there is ample time to fully process feelings/trauma/experiences and ample time to build you up before the session ends. This may mean that I will look at the time and ask you if it is okay to "bookmark" that for next time. It is very important to end a session on a high note. There may be things you would like to do (or stop doing) and I want you to know that it is not my job to judge or tell you what you "should" do. On this journey, there will be successes and near-misses and sometimes things may seem pointless and hopeless. I want to be the person in your life during those times who points out when you are courageous. Courage is really the greatest tool in our toolbox. I primarily use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and this means that I zero in on the relationship between an event in your life (large or small) and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which is a combination of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness skills being taught with worksheets, diary cards, and something called a Chain Analysis where we look at events leading up to a problematic behavior. No matter what any therapist tells you their specialties and degrees are, the most important thing is your relationship with that therapist. I hope I can help you find your courage and help you create a life that is meaningful to you, possibly laughing (or shedding a tear) along the way.

Welcome to Betterhelp! My name is Susan Wolanyk and I am an LPCC-S in OH and NY with 11 years experience working with moderate to severe mental illnesses in a community setting amongst a diverse population of Hispanics, East Europeans, Blacks and new immigrants from around the world. So many clients were filled with shame and fear which birthed in me a compassion and patience for our human vulnerability. I am a third generation immigrant and familiar with immigrant challenges that occur for each generation. My masters program also heavily stressed clinical humility in dealing with hurting people. My work focused on grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse with adults and teens. This is a second career for me after working in corporate settings while raising five children. I use an eclectic, person-centered approach which involves working with what motivates you and utilizes your unique, individual strengths. I will come alongside and have hope for you when you can’t believe what you want is possible. My goal, as a therapist, is to find solutions that bring lasting change and set you up to take your unique place in this world; a world that needs you and your gifts. My specialties are transitions, life adjustments, parenting issues, anger management, grief and loss. immigrant issues. Working together, we will build a strong therapeutic alliance based on mutual regard and respect. Congratulations on taking action to build your best life!

I am dual-licensed in Louisiana and New York with 22 years of experience treating clients using the following clinical approaches: CBT, DBT, Trauma-informed therapy, Person-centered, Holistic, and Faith-informed. Populations served are children, teens and adults, which includes the LGBTQI and other multi-cultural communities. I will tailor your treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! -"As traumatized children, we always dreamed that someone would come and save us. We never dreamed that it would, in fact, be ourselves as adults."-Alice Little.

I have been a licensed LMHC-D in New York state for over three years, with five years of professional work experience. I have great familiarity with a plethora of concerns, including depression; anxiety; trauma; and IPV. I work with a variety of populations, with focus upon the LGBTQIA+ community. I am here to support you in your path to wellness through a lens of Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

I am licensed in New York with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

As a licensed therapist in New York, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients develop self-compassion, process challenging experiences, and cultivate personal resilience. I have extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals and supporting those managing stress, anxiety, and trauma-related challenges. My therapeutic approach is deeply rooted in creating a affirming, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their authentic selves. I'm particularly passionate about supporting individuals working through issues of self-esteem, sexuality, and personal growth. Drawing from evidence-based practices, I help clients develop meaningful strategies for emotional healing and self-understanding. I believe in honoring each person's unique journey, recognizing that healing is a collaborative process. My goal is to provide compassionate, targeted support that empowers clients to build stronger, more fulfilling connections with themselves and others.

I am a licensed mental health counselor, counselor educator, and clinical supervisor with a specialization in women’s and reproductive mental health. In addition, I provide care in areas of trauma, major depression, anxiety, intimacy and relationship issues. My clinical work centers women and birthing people navigating infertility, pregnancy and postpartum transitions, loss, trauma, and identity shifts across the lifespan. I integrate trauma-informed, somatic, cognitive-behavioral, and narrative approaches, with a deep commitment to culturally responsive and liberatory care. My therapeutic approach honors each person's unique journey, focusing on critical areas like self-love, communication, life purpose, and healing from shame and guilt. I understand the profound impact of systemic challenges and provide culturally responsive care that validates individual experiences. I'm committed to creating a compassionate, affirming space where clients can explore their deepest challenges—whether related to workplace stress, relationship transitions, personal growth, or healing from past wounds. My work integrates evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of multicultural experiences and the nuanced impacts of prejudice and discrimination. Through collaborative, strength-based counseling, I support clients in rediscovering their inherent resilience and developing transformative strategies for emotional well-being.