About Me

Hi! I’m Rachel, a psychotherapist seeing clients virtually in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. I work with adults who are looking for support in navigating the challenges in their lives, because life is stressful! Some of my specialties include chronic illness, anxiety, relationship and family dynamics, life transitions, and perfectionism.

My Approach:

My style is warm, compassionate, and nurturing, and I take an active role in therapy and will be direct with you in what I am observing. I hope to help you build more confidence and self esteem, and to support you in feeling prepared to tolerate uncertainty and navigate the stressful parts of your life.

Our first few sessions will be a time for us to get to know each other and collaborate to develop your goals for therapy. Though I may challenge you at times, it is really important to me that we are working together in a way that feels right for you, always at your pace.

Sometimes our sessions will feel like you are talking for most of the time, sharing what has been coming up for you that week or what is causing stress for you. I will be there to support you and provide a safe, non judgmental, and consistent place for you to come with whatever is on your mind. Other times, I may introduce new tools and skills to practice together, give you homework to try on your own between sessions, or share common themes that I am noticing are impacting different areas of your life. And sometimes, we will share a laugh! Because therapy doesn’t mean we will always be focusing on the tough stuff.

I use various approaches in therapy, since each client is very different and your needs and the work we do together will evolve and change as you do. My diverse perspective includes using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems, relational, mindfulness, and strength-based approaches.

 Our work together may include helping you to:

  • Gain a deeper understanding of how your past experiences impact you in the present

  • Learn more about your patterns of thinking, and how this affects how you feel, the way you behave, and how you interact with yourself and the external world

  • Gain more insight into your relationship with yourself, your internal dialogue, and the way your high expectations may be contributing to how you are feeling

  • Teach you mindfulness and relaxation techniques, to help you target and deal with the physical symptoms of anxiety you feel when you are overwhelmed

  • Learn to set healthy boundaries with people in your life and with yourself, so that you feel more confident in your ability to communicate your needs

  • Teach you Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to challenge your anxious thoughts, so that they don’t feel so consuming and overwhelming

  • Develop self compassion and self-empathy

  • Learn to identify, acknowledge, and express emotions, so that you can support yourself and learn to better regulate how you are feeling

 Credentials and Training:

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

  • Master’s in Clinical Social Work, New York University

  • Post-Master’s Certification in Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, New York University

  • Post-Master’s Certification in Palliative and End of Life Care, New York University

  • Postgraduate Training Program in Psychodynamic Approaches in Clinical Practice, National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP)

  • Postgraduate Training Program in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy , National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP)

  • Social worker providing counseling to cardiac, surgery, oncology, and transplant patients and their families at Mount Sinai Hospital for over six years

  • Clinician in private practice providing individual psychotherapy to adults