Leah Krinsky Atkins
I'm a licensed MFT #81396. My ultimate goal in my therapy work is to help my clients believe in themselves as much as I believe in them. I work with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and countless life issues. While I am deeply humanistic, I also frequently employ elements from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to challenge clients' negative self-talk, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help them navigate big feelings. My work is informed by Object Relations theory, in which the therapist provides the client with empathy and attunement. Additionally, I am trained in EMDR, which is an invaluable tool for clients struggling with trauma.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
What you can expect from your first session with me is relief and hope. On a more practical level, we will discuss what you would like to accomplish and how we're going to accomplish it. I tailor my approach to what my client says they want to work on. If it's trauma, I'll share information on EMDR to help you decide if you'd like to try it. If it's depression and/or anxiety, I'll assess for duration, intensity, and possible connections to a specific life event, and then collaborate with you on a treatment plan to tackle the problem.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
The phrase my clients say to me most often is, "I never thought about it that way before." I have a unique perspective on life that I enjoy sharing with my clients. I create an atmosphere of acceptance, collaboration, lively inquiry...and laughter, when it's appropriate!
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Change is an essential part of life...so why is it so darned hard sometimes? Often, we know we need to make changes in order to live the full, dynamic life we long for, but don't know how to take the first step. That's where I come in. I'm at my happiest when I'm helping my clients challenge what's holding them back, be it internal or external. I do so with a combination of gentleness and directness, warmth and playfulness, head and heart.
Location
VirtualMy treatment methods
EMDR
I incorporate EMDR into my therapeutic work to help clients work through both their trauma and their negative thoughts and feelings related to the trauma. I've found it to be an effective tool in helping clients recognize and defuse triggering situations in which they find themselves "reliving" their trauma.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate elements of CBT into my work to help clients challenge their negative thoughts and shift perspective. Helping clients realize the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors allows them to feel more in control.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
It's such a gift to learn how to be present to yourself without judgment. I love teaching my clients mindfulness skills to help them observe their emotional experience without becoming overwhelmed by it.