Hi! I'm Laura, Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing psychotherapy for the past 12 years in New York and California. My approach to therapy is holistic, flexible and tailored to your unique needs. We'll focus on addressing your whole being—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just treating specific symptoms. By combining techniques from various therapeutic models and complementary therapies and drawing on a variety of therapeutic techniques and principles, I create a personalized plan that addresses your specific concerns and goals.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

The first session is primarily about building a connection, understanding your needs, and setting the groundwork for effective therapy. I’ll ask you to share a bit about yourself, including your background, current life situation, and any significant life events. This helps me understand who you are and what you’re experiencing. We’ll discuss what brought you to therapy. This includes any specific issues, challenges, or goals you have. Understanding your motivation for seeking help is key to tailoring our work to your needs. We’ll talk in detail about the issues you're facing, such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, or other challenges. This helps me get a clear picture of what you’re dealing with. I might ask about your emotional state, physical health, sleep patterns, and any other factors that could be affecting your well-being. We’ll discuss what you hope to achieve through therapy. This could include short-term objectives and long-term aspirations. Setting clear goals helps us stay focused and measure progress. I’ll ask about your expectations for therapy and any preferences you have regarding therapeutic techniques or approaches. Your feedback is important in shaping our work together. Then I can provide a brief overview of what therapy could entail, including the therapeutic process, my approach, and how we could work together. My goal in the session will be to establish a safe space where you can share your thoughts and feelings without judgment and to ensure you feel heard, respected, and hopeful about the path ahead. Together, we’ll create a plan that supports your journey towards well-being and personal growth.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I am really focused on establishing a good relationship with someone and meeting them where they are vs. forcing a particular approach or methodology on someone. I work to balance offering supportive validation in combination with pushing people to move outside their comfort zone and reframe situations.

About Laura Weissberger