Therapists for college students near New York University
As a mental health counselor dedicated to helping patients cultivate clarity and confidence, I specialize in treating children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. My goal is to help you navigate anxiety, trauma, depression, burnout, life transitions, and/or identity explorations so you live your life fully and authentically. I believe that you are the expert on your life and that everyone is capable of growth and change, which helps me be a supportive and motivational partner to you in the therapy room. I look forward to being a part of your transformative growth in our work together. I’m passionate about helping you know yourself better, increase your psychological flexibility, and find your inner strength. We achieve this together in a collaborative and empathetic environment that incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to guide you in identifying and understanding your core beliefs and patterns, and becoming aware of how these are serving or not serving you. My style is eclectic, collaborative, and person-centered so that care is tailored to your unique needs. My career began with the desire to be a teacher, a path that inspired me to help people learn more about themselves and how to interact with the world around them, not just within school subjects. This experience, along with time spent working with children, adolescents, and families who are or who have been involved in the legal, justice, and child welfare systems, led me to pursue counseling. In my role now as a therapist, I’m committed to using the knowledge and wisdom gained throughout my journey by providing evidence-based mental health care that meets people where they’re at through warmth and humor. I enjoy filling my free time with friends, family, and loved ones. You’ll also often find me scrapbooking and crocheting, or out and about going for walks, spending time outside, and listening to live music.
Past experiences may be affecting how you see yourself, relate to others, or move through the world. Healing is possible. Many come to therapy feeling weighed down by trauma, difficult relationships, low self-esteem, or unresolved childhood experiences. You may be functioning on the outside while feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure of yourself on the inside. Many of the adults I work with struggle with trusting themselves or others, setting boundaries, or feeling worthy of care and connection. Therapy can help you build insight, strengthen your sense of self, and develop healthier, more fulfilling relationships. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who works with people seeking deeper understanding, healing, and meaningful change. My approach is warm, exploratory, and open, with an emphasis on creating a space where you feel safe enough to be honest and work at your own pace. My style is collaborative and nonjudgmental, grounded in respect. Beginning therapy takes courage. If you’re ready to explore your experiences in a supportive and compassionate environment, I invite you to reach out.
Hi, I’m Jess Benston (she/they), a licensed art therapist and clinical supervisor with 17 years of experience supporting teens and adults through anxiety, depression, burnout, and identity exploration. Adapting to college is a big deal—whether you're adjusting to new independence, feeling the weight of expectations, or just feeling a little lost. Therapy with me is a warm, creative space where you can be yourself without pressure. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. We’ll move at your pace, explore what matters to you, and find ways to reconnect with your sense of self and aliveness. You don’t have to do this alone—and it doesn’t have to be all serious either. We’ll make room for curiosity, care, and even a little laughter.
Healing looks different for everyone, and finding the right support is the first step. As a Licensed Master Social Worker, my work centers on helping individuals and families navigate stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and life transitions, including those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Whether you're facing emotional distress, struggling to manage overwhelming feelings, or simply searching for steadier ground, we'll work to build the adaptive coping strategies and emotional regulation skills that make a lasting difference in your well-being. My commitment is to meet you exactly where you are, as a supportive, collaborative partner throughout your care. Together, we'll strengthen your insight, develop meaningful coping tools, and navigate life's challenges in a way that feels sustainable and true to you. Person-centered, strengths-based, and empathetic care isn't just a framework for me; it's the foundation of how I show up for every person I work with. Creating a space where you feel genuinely heard and empowered to grow is something I'm deeply passionate about. Sessions are collaborative and nonjudgmental by design. Your unique needs, experiences, and goals shape the direction of our work together, and I tailor my approach accordingly, whether that means focusing on building coping skills, working through emotional regulation, or finding footing during a difficult life transition. The goal is always to support you in ways that feel relevant, respectful, and grounded in your strengths. My path to this work is one shaped by purpose and intention. Before becoming a therapist, I spent seven years working in the marketing industry in New York City. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, something shifted — a strong pull toward work that was more meaningful, more human, and more centered on helping others care for themselves. That calling led me to pursue my Master of Social Work from Fordham University, and into a field where I could show up for people in ways that truly matter. The transition deepened my commitment to compassionate, person-centered care, and I bring that commitment, along with authenticity and genuine investment in your growth, to every session we share. Outside of the therapy room, staying grounded and connected matters deeply to me. I find joy in watching and playing tennis, tending to my plants, and spending time with my cat, Biscuit, who brings a quiet sense of comfort to everyday life. Continuous learning and personal growth are values I carry both in and out of my work, always looking for ways to feel more connected to the world and the people in it. That same spirit of curiosity and intention is something I bring to the care I offer you.
People come to therapy for a lot of reasons, but many feel like they need a change from how things are. Some don’t know what it is that needs to change, and they want more insight about what new roads they might try walking down. Others know exactly the changes they want to make in their lives, but they need a safe place to say it out loud to themselves, and they want help along the way. Some can’t change their situation and still yearn to be at peace. Regardless of what brought you to session, my goal during our time together is to work with you to help you identify obstacles in your path. My style is empowering, warm, and pragmatic. I work with people to manage their challenging experiences and connect with the life they want. I use cognitive behavior and acceptance and commitment therapy techniques. I provide comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, and specialize in evaluating for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and autism. I don't know you yet, but I'm excited to get to know you and help you come to a greater understanding of your values and getting you back to living the life you'd like to be living.
I believe that physical and emotional safety and connection within a therapeutic relationship can help clients access and heal their relationships with themselves and others. For this reason, I deeply value the relationship I form with clients. I offer support with empathy and curiosity, as you move through old feelings, bring attention to your present experience, and build trust within yourself. My approach is collaborative and trauma-informed, with the goal of reducing feelings of shame and self-judgement. I will reflect and validate your experience, notice what might be happening in the moment, and encourage self-reflection. Trauma can block our ability to heal, and I have deep grounding in approaches that create a holding environment, gently and gradually building safety and trust. I can support you as you increase your capacity to heal, through sharing and corrective experience, so that you can experience more regulation and joy in the present. I work with adults and adolescents. Some of the issues I work with are anxiety, depression, and life transitions, as well as grief and loss. I’m an LGBTQ-affirming clinician and have experience working with issues particular to LGBTQ+ folks. I have extensive training and experience in developmental trauma treatment and attachment-oriented approaches. I have training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and somatic approaches such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. I’ve also been a hospice volunteer, and completed trainings in grief counseling and end-of-life doula work. Other areas I’ve trained in are cultural humility, working with shame, treatment strategies for habits and addictions, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and psychedelic therapy for end-of-life anxiety and palliative care. I graduated with a BA in English from Barnard College, an MS.Ed. in Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College, and an MS.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from CUNY Hunter College. I have over 15 years’ experience as a trauma-informed, early childhood special educator and mental health consultant. It would be an honor to connect with and bear witness to your process.
-Are you struggling with the transition to a more independent phase of life? -Are you overwhelmed by the transition to college and balancing everything on your own for the first time? -Do you feel like everyone else but you has somehow figured out “adulting”? -Are you getting into conflicts with your parents, feeling like they still view you as a child? Many young adults feel alone in these experiences, with the idea that everyone else seems to “have it all together.” Transitions such as graduating high school, starting college, starting your first job, experiencing your first relationship, and working towards being financially independent are all exciting moments in time, but they can also bring stress and uncertainty. College students might be thrown by how much harder academic life is than in high school, no longer having the structure and accountability provided by teachers or parents. Making friends in a new setting may also be harder than you expected, leading to feelings of failure. Especially since having a social life with peers can feel even more important when you’re far from home. Coming home from college for the summer or winter break, many people are thrown by the fact that their friends have grown and evolved in ways that may be different than them, making friendships feel different. If things aren’t working out as you expected, you may start to feel down or depressed, or a sense of isolation and loneliness. That’s where we enter in. We’d love to help you feel a little less alone in this phase of life and to start working through the challenges you’ve been dealing with. At Elevate CBT, we specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on addressing thinking and behavioral patterns that may be keeping you stuck and preventing you from having the life you want. It’s a very goal-driven kind of therapy, so your therapist will work with you to identify what is currently a struggle in your life, and what you want to work towards to have a more satisfying life. We have helped many young adults in therapy work towards finding their “people” and figuring out aspects of their identities, improving academic organization and decreasing procrastination, creating a more balanced relationship with alcohol or weed, and asserting independence from parents while still being respectful of the ways in which parental support may still be needed. We also specialize in working with young adults with anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, OCD, BFRBs (hair pulling and skin picking), trauma, and eating/body image concerns. Our goal is to create a comfortable environment for you to learn more about yourself, your emotions, and how to change behavior in the direction of your desired goals. Balancing self-compassion with pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, we will work together to help you achieve the life you want.
Hi, I am Ebony Booker, a Social Work graduate from Fordham University and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Georgia. More specifically I am someone who helps to restore balance when life’s most important priorities can get you off track. Being able to put the pieces together when things fall apart has been my niche in working with others over the past two decades. I understand what it is like to have the daily demands of work, family, relationships, school, extracurricular activities all vying for the same amount of attention in one day. It can seem like they are stacking up like a Jenga puzzle. During this time, when demands are high and your energy is low it may feel like things are off balance. From my many years in the field working with individuals I know that you can get back to a sense of oneness and focus. If you are ready to do the work, you will be surprised and encouraged at how much you are capable of. By implementing the necessary tools to manage day to day stressors. The growth you see will be something you did not know existed. I know that each one of us can make the change in our lives. If you are ready to understand what is holding you back and to carve a path out to begin your journey, then give me a call at 404-707-5743 or drop me an email at essentialwellnessandconsulting@gmail.com.
Diabetes-Focused Psychotherapy takes a holistic approach combining traditional talk therapy with diabetes education and management help. It addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of living life with diabetes while still addressing other non-diabetes-related life problems. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Diabetes Educator and have personal experience live with Diabetes over the past 44 years of my life. My private practice helps clients of all ages and their families manage all aspects of diabetes and the many diverse cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues that come with all types of Diabetes. Along with the impact diabetes has on individuals and couples, diabetes is a family illness and can harm all family members. I work with parents and their children to manage the difficulties of growing up with diabetes.
Our group is somewhat unique in that we are experiential therapists. This means that in addition to addressing emotions, beliefs, and thoughts, we also incorporate the body, brain and nervous system into our therapy. We help people learn somatic techniques for settling anxiety and building more regulation. We are all trauma-trained, gentle, and nonjudgmental therapists who value the client-therapist relationship and can provide support for navigating early adulthood, independence/dependence, relationships, and adjustment to college.
My work in counseling psychology emerged from being an artist. While earning my BFA at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, I was invited into my colleagues’ lives and learned to share their experiences through their lenses and perceptions. Graduate training at NYU sharpened this insight to bring a unique perspective to the therapeutic process. I provide feedback and reflection—infused with a dose of humor—in a warm, safe, and trusting atmosphere. My approach is both interactive and direct. I ask my clients to challenge themselves to be completely open and honest and share in a way that might feel like they’re ‘telling on themselves.’ Significant change and healing can only really begin with the whole truth. Believing strongly that the integration between mind and body leads to greater mental health, I encourage clients to incorporate physical activity and other treatment modalities: yoga, art, working out, running, massage, pets, acupuncture, meditation, medication, vacation, etc.
As a licensed Mental Health Counselor, my passion is in collaborating with clients to help strengthen their personal strategies and to find a life worth living. I believe that with the right tools and motivation, my clients are able to manage the difficulties that life has given them. Clients learn to trust themselves and develop ways to learn coping skills and increase their sense of self-worth through continued practice in our sessions. The idea to go into psychology was sparked by my own experiences with depression, grief, interpersonal conflicts, and trauma. In college, I went to a therapist and learned to cope with the challenges that I had been facing since my adolescence. As a result, I was completely enamored with learning about how the mind works and why people behave the way they do. I believe that with my own personal experiences, I can create a safe and non-judgmental environment for my clients, so that they may grow and heal. In my practice, I utilize an integrative approach, and holistic, person oriented theories. I am certified in Dialectical behavioral therapy and specialize working with personality disorders, interpersonal difficulties, trauma, and work with other mental health conditions as well.
Welcome to my Practice! As a professional who is visually impaired, I have learned, with the help of my guide dog Faith, to literally transform obstacles into opportunities! I can help you too as I help students and professionals who may feel overwhelmed due to ADHD or learning differences, anxiety, depression and/or relationship issues. Perhaps you are plagued by perfection or performance anxiety. Together we will prioritize problems for which you'd like help. You will learn strategies, tools and techniques for crushing your negative thoughts. If you are struggling with social or other types of anxiety, you will also learn effective ways to move through it so you can feel confident and take back control of your emotions and ability to do the things in your life that are important and enble you to thrive. Finally, this will lead to living the life you were meant to, with joy and happiness. If you'd like to improve your communication skills and have greater closeness and intimacy, regardless of the type of relationship, I will teach you strategies to bring you closer to those with whom you care most. I am CBT Certified, and a trained couples and family therapist. I am also an ADHD/Life and Integrative Nutrition Coach. Feel free to reach out with any questions and/or for an initial consultation to see if we are a good match. I am currently seeing clients via tele therapy.
As a pre-licensed mental health counselor with three years of experience, I help neurodiverse adolescents and young adults navigate struggles with executive functioning, emotional regulation, life transitions, grief, interpersonal communication, and identity exploration. I love working with patients who are curious about their behaviors and want to learn more about themselves as they navigate their personal mental health journey. My hope is to be an extension of your support system as you move through life’s natural transitions, finding healthier ways to express yourself while offering unconditional positive regard, empathy, and a listening ear. If you feel like this resonates with you, please reach out so we can chat further! When working with younger populations, I integrate play and expressive arts therapies into my sessions. For older populations, I use aspects of Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), allowing patients to have a say in personalizing their space and treatment goals. I take a fluid and ever-changing approach to therapy as I learn new skills and modalities to share, and to better customize care to each person’s unique story and needs. In the first few sessions, we collaboratively set treatment goals and work together to find the most impactful modalities to use. Whether this includes solution-focused activities or meaningful conversations to better process life events, the goal is to give you a space to be authentically yourself with the ability to comfortably share feedback and tailor sessions to better curate your healing journey. I was drawn to the mental health field at a young age through my own struggles to find my voice and better advocate for myself. As a neurodivergent clinician, I empathize with the difficulty in finding a space where individuals feel truly heard and understood. This unique perspective has led me to curating personalized spaces for my patients to make strides toward their treatment goals in a way that feels authentic to them. A huge music enthusiast, I love to attend concerts and musicals on my days off, as well as draw, write, and walk my dog around the neighborhood. I'm also an avid thrifter and am constantly pushing my personal style to new heights!
Dedicated to providing compassionate psychotherapy to empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. I believe the therapeutic relationship is a powerful foundation for healing and growth. Working together, we’ll clarify your goals and develop strategies that align with your values and aspirations. My approach is warm and supportive, grounded in creating a safe, kind, and genuine space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings freely and without judgment.
I specialize in working with young adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, and navigating life's challenges. I strive to create a supportive and validating environment. Together, we will work to uncover patterns of behavior or recurring thoughts that may be having a negative impact on how you feel. We will develop useful coping tools to help you make meaningful changes in your life.
Times of transition are exciting and challenging. Starting something new, moving through inflection points in your education and career, preparing for completion and uncertainty while you figure out what's next, are all important processes everyone hopes will go smoothly - but sometimes they can feel rocky. Even good changes or subtle shifts can feel unsettling, especially for highly sensitive people. If social, academic or emotional / mental health issues are stressing you and making it hard to feel confident and supported in working towards your goals, therapy can be a great tool to help increase understanding about "how it all works" and get support in developing patience and progress towards deepening clarity and commitment to your goals. Anxieties, insecurity, depression, difficult patterns in relationships or work, and problems focusing can be understood and changed, so you have more energy and confidence to devote to living. Become more connected to yourself and others through a specialized process of exploration with a trained professional, and see a difference in your life. A therapist’s expertise and experience are very important, but the *key* ingredient of effective therapy is a “good fit” between you and your therapist. If you’d like to meet and see how it would be to work together, I would be pleased to hear from you. Beginning work as a psychotherapist in clinic settings in 1995, I opened my private practice in 2002. I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University, am a New York City based Licensed Clinical Social Worker (licensed in New York and New Jersey), and earned a certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the NYFS Institute.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, my work is rooted in creating a therapeutic space where you feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, the weight of trauma, cultural or racial identity concerns, life transitions, or relationship challenges, you don't have to face it alone. With a particular passion for supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, my practice is designed to be inclusive and affirming for all patients, and especially meaningful to those who haven't always felt centered in their care. Our work together is genuinely collaborative, because healing happens best when you're an active part of the process. Bridging that gap, together, is what I'm here for. From the moment we begin working together, you can expect a space that is warm, nonjudgmental, and tailored to who you are. No two people carry the same experiences, backgrounds, or goals, and your care shouldn't look like anyone else's. Drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness, my approach is integrative, person-centered, and always collaborative. My style is kind yet purposeful: together we'll work toward recognizing your needs and building the practical tools to meet them. Guiding you toward the support and strategies that help you thrive is what drives every session we share. My path to becoming a therapist began in research. Working as a research coordinator, I found myself consistently drawn to the deeper stories behind the data, and to the real concerns people in our studies were carrying with them. It became clear that being a therapist was the right fit, the place where I could do the most meaningful work. That background in research and community mental health shapes how I practice today. It gave me a unique lens for understanding how large-scale societal and structural forces ripple down and affect individuals in very personal ways, and a commitment to integrative, community-rooted care that I bring to every session. Outside of the therapy room, you'll find me soaking up a Broadway show, getting lost in a good book, or somewhere out in the world on my next travel adventure. Water has always been a source of joy for me, whether that means snorkeling, diving, or simply swimming. Lately, I've been diving into new creative outlets as well, teaching myself embroidery and showing up to Pilates class regularly. They've become my favorite way to reset between sessions and return to the work feeling fully present for you.
Finding the right therapist matters — and here's what sets my approach apart. I combine psychodynamic therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and self-compassion into a practical, personalized framework refined over more than 10 years of clinical experience working with high-achievers. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach; you are the expert on your own life. I understand firsthand the pressure to perform, the fear of falling short, and the burnout that comes from relentlessly pushing yourself. I'm not just familiar with those experiences clinically; I've lived them. My clients tell me they appreciate that I'm direct, warm, and genuinely collaborative — that sessions feel both supportive and productive. All sessions are available online, so getting consistent support fits into even the most demanding schedule. If you're ready to stop white-knuckling your way through and start building something that actually feels sustainable, I'd love to connect. Schedule a free 20-minute consultation at susanpodbielski.com — no pressure, just a conversation.
My mission is to help each client I see to achieve lasting change through greater self-awareness, and enhanced knowledge of and ability to use skills to manage emotions, tolerate distress, communicate more effectively, and manage life’s challenges and stressors in more helpful ways. I am a warm, emotionally engaged therapist who will make you feel comfortable and understood. I am open and direct, and you will be able to tell instantly that you are in the room with someone who really wants to help you be your best self. Clients tell me that I am approachable and easy to talk to. I have 20 years of experience helping people who are struggling in one or multiple areas of their lives, and I believe that each client needs and deserves a personalized approach targeted to their own personality style, problems, and goals.