New to Grow
My name is Kerri Chiaravalle and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in New York and Connecticut. I consider the work that I do as a therapist to be a privilege. It takes so much courage to open up to someone and I honor that at every session. I want my clients to know that they are free to be themselves and that this space is here for them. We'll explore the many things that make up you in a non-judgmental and ever-supportive atmosphere.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
I like to say there is no such thing as TMI in therapy. From the first session to the 100th session, it is important for my clients to know they are safe, welcomed, and seen. We can talk about anything and everything, making space for any and all response.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I take pride in building a rapport with my clients from the start. My goal is to create a therapeutic environment where space to open up is present, but where pressure and obligation are not. I like to use everyday language, even when providing education about the process, and I encourage clients to express themselves in whatever way feels most natural. I'm not the expert, you are. And I want to hear your story.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I enjoy working with many different clients across all walks of life. Young adults who are just starting out, couples who are working through life transitions, individuals who are facing anxiety and depression with courage and understanding, the LBGTQIA+ community, those who have given birth and are navigating postpartum, and older individuals exploring different opportunities in later life stages.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I am a certified DBT therapist, and while not a purist, I readily reach for it as a major component in the work I do with clients. DBT has extensive skills that can be applied to both everyday and wide-ranging experiences. Key areas like Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness can provide lifelines in moments we feel overwhelmed.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I've been using IFS in my work with clients for the past four years. I have seen the positive impact of clients getting in touch with their parts and the beautiful work of unifying the Self. IFS helps deepen the understanding people have of themselves, the way they interact with others, and feeling more in control and collected as a whole.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I see the immense benefit of EFT when working through patterns and cycles with couples. Exploring the styles of attachments and relational dynamics people have inside and outside of their primary partnership, and understanding the long-term impact therein, can help couples achieve greater alignment and security with each other.