Therapy for children, adults, couples and families
About Me
About Me
I am a licensed psychologist practicing in NYC (near Columbus Circle) and on Long Island, NY (Stony Brook / Setauket / Port Jefferson area), working with children, adults, couples and families.
I hold two doctoral degrees: one from Adelphi University in NY, and the other from a university in Russia. In Russia, I taught psychology to graduate students and provided private psychological services. Currently, I see patients in my private practice and supervise doctoral psychology students and early-career clinicians. I have authored approximately 20 publications.
My Approach to therapy
My Approach to therapy
Through years of sharing space with people during their most challenging and hopeful times, my understanding of therapy has taken a shape I would like to share with you. Perhaps it will help you decide whether this way of working feels like a good match for you — or simply give you a better idea of what to expect if you decide to work with me.
You Are In Charge Of Therapy
You own your life, every step of it. No one else can or should take control. You already have the inner resources and capacity to create meaningful change — the very fact that you are considering therapy speaks to your strength and resilience. My role is to help you connect more deeply with these resources, and to support you in finding a way of living that feels true to your personality, values, and circumstances. Often, this journey includes discovering new perspectives, making meaningful connections, and processing experiences from the past.
Therapy Is Both Relieving and Challenging
Being truly seen, heard, and understood is not just meaningful — it is essential to our nature as human beings. In therapy, we create a space where this can happen, often for the first time in a long while. And when it does, something shifts: a renewed sense of hope emerges — grounding, uplifting, and full of possibility.
While therapy often brings relief, it can also require confronting pain: old wounds, forgotten memories, deep fears. The people who step into this work show tremendous courage, and I am always honored to witness and celebrate their achievements. Even in the most difficult situations, I have found that healing and change are possible — not by erasing the past, but by creating new ways of living with it.
You Are Who You Are for a Reason
Even the most painful emotions or self-defeating behaviors often began as ways to survive, soothe, or protect. What now feels limiting may once have been necessary. Recognizing the wisdom behind these patterns is the beginning of change. For example, repetitive thoughts or actions may have once helped manage overwhelming anxiety but can evolve into patterns like obsessive-compulsive disorder that end up causing harm. As we move toward change, it’s important to honor how your defenses have worked to protect you — until new, more adaptive ways of handling stress and life’s challenges can take their place.
Therapy Is a Mutual Exchange
No two journeys are alike. While I bring my training and experience into our work, I do not hold answers or roadmaps. I am respectfully curios — about your life, your history, your dreams and struggles, your humor and spirit. Each person I work with brings their own rich world into our conversations — full of surprises, learning, and discovery. I see therapy as a shared space where understanding grows between two people. I check often to make sure my understanding feels right to you, and I welcome corrections and new insights. In this way, therapy is not a static process, but something alive — shaped by your truth, and by our work together. The therapeutic relationship enriches me both professionally and personally, and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Ending Therapy
Life brings unexpected turns, stress, and challenges that require us to adapt and grow. Because of this, the process of personal development is ongoing — and the role of therapy varies from person to person. Some seek therapy for relief from symptoms like anxiety or depression, with the goal of continuing their growth independently. Others come to explore deeper patterns — long-standing traits or behaviors that may be getting in the way of the life they want. And some are generally functioning well and satisfied with life, but return for regular check-ins after therapy has ended to maintain their progress and stay grounded and balanced. There is no one “right” way to use therapy — only what feels meaningful and useful for you.
Therapy is not just about fixing what is broken. It is about making space for all that you are — your struggles, your strengths, your story — and supporting the possibilities that emerge from there. If you choose to begin this journey, I will meet you with openness, respect, and care.