Therapists for college students near New York University

I work with clients seeking meaningful change—whether that means managing depression, exploring relationship patterns, or navigating substance use recovery. Through a collaborative approach and a variety of therapeutic methods, I help clients reach their goals and create a more fulfilling, balanced life. I believe that talking things through can be powerful. My goal is to help you connect more deeply with yourself, understand what’s holding you back, and build a life that feels meaningful to you. Every person’s story is different, so our work together will always be centered on your unique experiences, strengths, and goals. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially when you’re already carrying a lot—but you don’t have to do it on your own. Whenever you’re ready, I’m here to listen and help you find your way forward.

Seeking out therapy is a sign of strength and you deserve a safe place for discovery. Ultimately therapy is a journey of exploration. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you genuinely feel understood, heard, and seen in a compassionate, non-judgmental space. Our work together can explore and navigate through your concerns to reach a more meaningful and fulfilling life while reaching your extraordinary potential.

When people come to treatment with problems, it is important to remember that they are trying to cope with them in the best way they can. With that in mind, I offer a reflective and engaging partnership with my clients, working toward the goal of helping them to be autonomous, authentic and compassionate in a world that can be extremely stressful. Although my work is solidly grounded in psychodynamic, cognitive/learning, and systems theories, my approach is client-centered, practical and strengths-based. I bring honesty, warmth, and humor to the therapy relationship. I am LGBTQ affirmative and invested in doing cross-cultural therapy which is culturally sensitive. I have a dog, Bracket, who works with me, and I have been doing AAT since 2002. There is a growing body of research which suggests that AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy) can be helpful with a range of diagnoses, including Depression, PTSD, and Autistic Spectrum. Many therapists know little about online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life. They may dismiss it as unimportant, or assume it is a problem. I am a gamer-affirmative therapist, meaning I’m more interested in understanding your in-world experience and activity than pathologizing it.

Counseling works best when the focus is on getting back to yourself. It is a space to seek guidance, introspection, and wellness all geared around your own unique strengths, interests, and needs. Counseling is not about "fixing" you, it's about exploring and connecting with your own capabilities to bring you the wellness you deserve. When I work with clients it's important to guide you down your own path of wellness and to use my skills and expertise to help you embody your own power to heal. Through narrative and mindfulness based approaches we will work together to connect to your emotions and learn from your own self what it is you need to thrive. With over a decade of experience working in the mental health field in a variety of settings, I have gathered wisdom and knowledge from a variety of frameworks, such as person centered care, cognitive behavioral therapy, and crises and stress management, to address a variety of concerns such as trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions, personal identity, goal setting, sexuality, grief, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, mind-body healing and so much more.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to turn, you don’t have to face it alone. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in helping children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families who are navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, emotional regulation, and major life transitions. With more than five years of experience across diverse clinical settings, I offer care that is compassionate, evidence-based, and built on trust. My goal as your engaged and supportive partner is to ensure you feel safe and understood as we work through what’s weighing on you and progress toward the life you want to live. Our work is a partnership, one where you’re met with respect, curiosity, and care every step of the way. I look forward to supporting your growth, healing, and lasting change. My approach to therapy centers on you. I work collaboratively and from a strengths-based, culturally responsive perspective, creating a space where you feel respected and supported. Together, we’ll explore your unique needs and lived experiences, build insight, and tap into the resilience you already carry. Our sessions are nonjudgmental, trauma informed, and grounded in compassion, with an emphasis on practical tools you can use to create lasting change so the work feels meaningful and relevant. My journey toward becoming a therapist began in my teenage years, when I was searching for ways to make sense of my own emotions and searching for support that truly helped. Along the way, I learned how powerful it can be to feel genuinely understood, an experience that shaped my commitment to offering care that’s warm, trauma informed, and deeply compassionate. In my work today, I bring empathy, patience, and a real-life understanding of what it’s like to build emotional skills one step at a time, meeting people exactly where they are. Outside of therapy, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, painting, boxing, and a little retail therapy. These hobbies help me stay grounded, creative, and energized, bringing balance and presence into the work I do with patients.

Stressed out, anxious, and over it all? Overwhelm, sleeplessness, and discontent don’t have to define this time in your life. You need some space and time for yourself to heal, to not accept what is or go back to what was, to move through this into a better future for yourself and your family. I help individuals in Rochester and throughout New York State balance their life stressors, manage the difficult emotions that might be keeping them stuck, and explore their goals for an attainable future. You can learn to be more vocal , purposeful, and confident about your path. You can gain a greater feeling of balance, harmony, and contentment back to your life. Whether you want to address your stress, depression, anxiety, big life changes, professional goals and burnout, or something else…you don’t need to keep doing it alone.

Hey, I’m Alaina! We all struggle and its uncomfortable, yet – it’s a normal and natural part of everyone’s life. When we struggle, we might notice we get stuck in thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and patterns we recognize are not helping us, but we don’t know how to stop or change these patterns. No worries, we have all been there! We will explore how these patterns have served you to this point, what barriers are keeping you feeling stuck, and figure out what changes you want to make to live the life that is meaningful to you! You will be able to implement effective tools to feel more centered and work towards your goals with more confidence. We will use a few different talk therapy approaches to help individualize the therapeutic experience to your needs and help you accomplish your goals. There are so many effective tools/ skills out there that can help you feel empowered, grounded and engaged in meaningful ways. Let’s work together and identify what feels best for you.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I come to this work from a place of deep respect for each individual’s story and path. I believe in creating an inclusive, welcoming space where you will feel comfortable exploring both your strengths and your challenges. I have a collaborative approach and value being direct, supportive, responsive to feedback. I have a background in Women’s Studies and literature and creative writing and may incorporate creative and expressive activities such as storytelling and reading other people’s stories as part of our work. I have experience working with a range of issues and populations (see below). I am passionate about women’s and LGBTQI issues and have extensive experience working with gender expansive and transgender individuals along the gender continuum. Fundamentally, I believe the relationship between an individual and his/her/their therapist matters much more than the specific techniques employed. My primary focus early in therapy is developing a relationship where my clients trust me and feel comfortable. I work with individuals in an open and honest dialogue and help individuals increase resiliency and coping skills through identifying their strengths. Primarily I provide individual counseling on a weekly basis. Many clients will be able to work through a particular issue or issues in a brief time, but I am also able to work with clients over a longer span of time.

Life transitions are my specialty and college is full of them! The pressures that students face can include feeling overwhelmed by college responsibilities, parent expectations, time management, career confusion, as well as "adulting" in general. Even social life can be a stressor. Some of my clients have found that past experiences or traumas have become obstacles to reaching their goals. It took many years of college to get where I am at, so I get that the struggle is real! I am available via teletherapy (video or phone), in office sessions, and offer text/email support as needed. I am here for you throughout the year - not just when school is in session. Call me today for a free consultation!

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Practitioner who earned my degree from New York University's Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program. Throughout my work in community mental health, I have had the privilege of supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and other emotional challenges. My approach is collaborative, faith-based, compassionate, and client-centered, drawing primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients build resilience, develop healthier coping strategies, and work toward their personal goals.

I provide individual and family therapy to adults and teenagers navigating relational challenges, life transitions, anxiety and depression. I also have extensive background working with neurodivergent people (ADHD and Autism Spectrum). I am passionate about helping individuals as they navigate life adjustments, such as starting a new job, leaving home, becoming a parent or processing a change in a relationship. I value creating a safe, open, and authentic space for people to learn more about themselves. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, collaborative and relational. I believe that our experiences throughout our lives impact the way that we see ourselves and our relationships. From this perspective, I work with clients to explore how their life experiences have impacted them. I know that it is difficult to choose a therapist. If you are curious about what it would be like to work with me, please feel free to reach out to set up a phone consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!

Here at Cognition Co., we dedicate ourselves to supporting people to live mentally healthier lives. We are a collaborative group of experienced mental health and wellness professionals providing services to children, teens, adults, families, and couples. We dedicate ourselves to helping people to live mentally healthy lifestyles. We value unconditional support and strive to provide mental health services by focusing on the well-being of both our providers and our clients. We ensure that our therapists are well supported and valued so they in turn can provide incredible services to our clients.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether you're worrying often, struggling with relationship stress and conflict, needing to process traumatic events, or wanting to experience a more loving sense of self, beginning therapy can be anxiety-provoking and takes courage. I hope to make your experience a little easier by listening with compassion and curiosity, moving at your pace, and centering the therapy around your needs. Do others describe you as overachieving, self-reliant, perfectionistic, or Type-A? Do you struggle with creating enough balance in your life? Do you lose track of your needs & desires, and then find yourself feeling burnt out or resentful of others? We will work together to help you feel more grounded and centered, develop effective communication skills, set & maintain boundaries that feel good, experience greater compassion towards yourself, and feel more connected to others. We can work through whatever barriers are getting in the way of creating more play, softness, love, rest & support in your life. I am trained in psychodynamic therapy & mindfulness-based somatic therapy, two powerful ways of working that promote greater awareness, connection, and sense of freedom. I welcome you to reach out for a phone consult & we can feel into if we're a good fit to work together.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I've worked extensively with university and graduate students for over eight years, including completing my postdoctoral training at Cornell Health, and I'm deeply familiar with the academic, personal, and relational pressures that often accompany campus life. My approach is grounded in the psychodynamic tradition and trauma theory, with a focus on how early relationships and implicit emotional learning shape present experience. It is experiential in nature, emphasizing attention to emotional and bodily experience in the present moment. I draw from IFS, AEDP, Coherence Therapy, and Hakomi to help clients move beyond insight toward lasting emotional change.

My Philosophy Therapy should be a safe place to talk about what is bothering you. It’s a place to gain self-awareness and insight and work toward feeling better with a qualified therapist who cares. It should be affordable and accessible. It should be tailored to your needs alone. And it shouldn’t last for years! How does that sound? I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor. I have a BA from the University of Michigan and an MA in Mental Health Counseling from New York University where I graduated summa cum laude. I spent three years in the Counseling Unit at Long Island University working with college-age students focusing on crisis management, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, individuation, suicidal thoughts and much more. I am a referral resource for the University of Pennsylvania, Adelphi University, Long Island University and Molloy College. I currently have a private practice in East Norwich where I work with older teenagers and adults.