LMHC, 20 years of experience
Hello, my name is Bethany Nelligan, and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York State. I bring over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. I specialize in crisis counseling and am passionate about supporting individuals through challenging times with empathy and care. Outside of my professional life, I'm married and a proud mom to two sons, ages 15 and 20. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, bowling, birding and cooking.
In our initial session, we'll begin with introductions and then get into the specific challenges you're encountering. Understanding these will assist me in developing a personalized plan for our future appointments. My primary aim is to support you in gaining clarity, setting objectives, and pursuing a rewarding life. I offer a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to navigate their feelings and thoughts, enhance coping mechanisms, and strengthen resilience.
My greatest strength as a therapist is creating a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable opening up. I use a mix of evidence-based approaches and practical coping skills to help clients not only understand their challenges but also develop real, lasting strategies for change. What stands out about my approach is that I meet clients where they are. I focus on building a genuine connection and providing practical, down-to-earth strategies that clients can use in everyday life. Many people tell me they feel heard, supported, and empowered after our sessions. My clients often share that after sessions they feel calmer, more understood, and equipped with told they can apply right away. I focus on helping people make steady progress toward their goals, whether its reducing anxiety, managing stress, or finding more balance in life.
My ideal client is anyone who is seeking support-whether short term or long term while navigating life's challenges. I work with clients of all ages who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, burnout, or simply feeling overwhelmed. I strive to provide a safe and supportive space to help you find balance, build coping skills, and move toward a healthier more fulfilling life. I incorporate relaxation techniques at the start of our sessions, including deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation. These practices help us quiet the mind and create a calm foundation to begin our work together.
With the use of CBT techniques, we can understand the connection between thoughts, feeling, and behaviors. I will help you recognize and challenge your unhelpful thoughts and learn to replace them with more helpful ones. You will learn effective coping skills for dealing with issues in your life.
I will help teach you strategies to cope with stress, anxiety in a healthier way through emotion regulation, working on interpersonal relationships, grounding skills, mindfulness and more.
This will involve mindfulness practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, and present-moment awareness into therapeutic settings. This approach is helpful for treating anxiety, depression, increases self-awareness, helps with emotion regulation and more.