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 look to help you identify your strengths and utilize them so that you can achieve your desired outcomes. My approach is to utilize multidimensional psychodynamic tools based upon your life course and inherent difficulties. In conjunction with the client, goals will be developed and guidance will be provided in order to achieve the optimal short term gains and long term objectives. Change is achieved through solution focused and task based theories to help achieve change. These tools can be particularly helpful for those coping with negative thought patterns, depression, anxiety, developmental differences, executive functioning difficulties and challenges associated with trauma and transitions. My practice has entailed work with a wide variety of individuals and focused upon the needs of each person. I have also engaged in practice with individuals with autism, those impacted by a wide range of environmental challenges as well as those having difficulty making life transitions. I have also participated in family based crisis management, helped families develop a range of techniques to improve relationships with their significant others and acted as a conduit between family members coping with trauma. I live with my wife, daughters and two dogs and have a passion for helping others. I look forward to getting to know you and helping you have your aspirations align with your actions!

As a licensed therapist in New York, I bring over two decades of experience supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients navigate challenging experiences, including social anxiety, trauma recovery, addiction, depression and anxiety. I specialize in creating compassionate, affirming therapeutic spaces where individuals can explore their deepest challenges. My approach integrates evidence-based techniques to address anxiety, shame, post-traumatic experiences, and substance use concerns. I understand that healing is a deeply personal journey, and I'm committed to walking alongside my clients with empathy, respect, and professional expertise. My therapeutic work is grounded in a holistic understanding of human experience, recognizing the unique strengths and resilience each person brings to their healing process. I aim to empower clients to develop meaningful coping strategies, build emotional awareness, and create positive transformations in their lives.

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.

As a licensed therapist in New York with over two decades of professional experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through life's complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients navigate challenges related to depression, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, and career transitions. I bring a compassionate and holistic approach to therapy, focusing on areas such as self-love, communication, personal growth, and healing from difficult life experiences. My work spans diverse contexts, including relationship dynamics, workplace stress, family systems, and individual emotional wellness. My therapeutic style emphasizes understanding each person's unique journey. I'm committed to creating a supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, develop resilience, and cultivate meaningful personal transformation. Whether you're confronting midlife transitions, managing chronic challenges, or seeking deeper self-understanding, I'm dedicated to walking alongside you with empathy and professional expertise.

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.

Hi. My name is Anita Aasen. I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years experience. I work with individual, families and couples, I have learned that every journey is unique. Every journey has its trials. We all experience unexpected changes, difficulties and loss; whether it be a death, a marriage , a job or some other. We all experience anxiety in some degree. The pandemic has hit all of us hard. Therapy is a unique way to assist when you are ready to write the next chapter of your life's narrative. Specialties include grief work, stress reduction, self esteem, depression, anxiety and PTSD. I recently has obtained a certificate as. a Certified Grief Informed Professional. and have received a certificate as a Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist . I have been trained in cognitive behavioral therapy and in mindfulness. I have worked as a substance abuse counselor and have an extensive knowledge of the 12 steps and "smart recovery" other recovery based programs.. I approach therapy uniquely as a chance to find the lessons in difficulties and the hidden strengths to be discovered and acknowledged. I believe there is therapeutic value in humor, finding gratitude in the small things, and enriching your spirituality. I believe in the resilience of the human spirit.

I have earned my B.S. in Human Services/Counseling. I graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, with my master’s degree in clinical counseling with a major in Addiction Counseling, May 2004. In September 2006 I was grandfather in as a New York State, License Mental Health Counselor. On 3/31/16, I was grandfather in as a Master Addiction Counselor from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Counselor. I have 20 years’ experience of substances use therapy, 15 years’ experience with individuals with dual diagnosis, 5 years’ experience working in transitional housing with individuals with chronic medical conditions. I am a Credential Alcoholism Substance Abuse Counselor. I attended Narco Freedom Institute for my 60-hour Compulsive Gambling Training, and I received my Specialty in Gambling Designation. I have obtained not only a theoretical base to go along with my practical knowledge of human behavior, but also, I have developed the skills necessary to help others to empower themselves. My approach to therapy is motivational interviewing along with cognitive behavioral therapy, most importantly I use a client-centered approach to meet the client where they are. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

I am licensed in New York with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in the states of New York and North Carolina with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & depression. 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. 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 licensed in New York with 40 years of professional work experience. I have a lot of experience in helping clients with relationship issues, intimacy related issues, I also have experience working with mid-life crisis. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. 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.

I am licensed in New York with 7 years of professional work experience. I'm a gay Latino male, and have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, relationship issues, & trauma and abuse. 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. 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 professionally competent, empathic, and down to earth.

As a licensed therapist in New York, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients work through challenges related to depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and interpersonal dynamics. I offer a compassionate, affirming approach that honors each person's unique identity and experiences. My therapeutic work focuses on empowering individuals to develop deeper self-understanding, improve communication skills, and build resilience. I have extensive experience supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, addressing social anxiety, exploring personal identity, and helping clients move through difficult life transitions. I believe in creating a supportive, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate meaningful personal growth. My approach is collaborative, drawing from evidence-based practices to support your individual journey toward healing and self-discovery.

I am a psychotherapist who works from a psychodynamic perspective, drawing on my specialized training in interpersonal psychoanalysis. I received my advanced training at the Manhattan Institute for Interpersonal Psychoanalysis. In my work, I emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship itself as a vehicle for insight and change. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and complex relational patterns. My approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and attuned to your needs. I received my Masters in Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Most of my clients would describe me as insightful, warm and empathic. As an interpersonal therapist, I learn about you through our relationship and part of my mission is to reflect my insights back to you. Through this collaborative approach, I emphasize curiosity, emotional safety, and the ways early relationships continue to shape present-day experience.