Find a Therapist in Irvington, New York.

I am honored to work with individuals and couples from many different walks of life. My approach is rooted in respect, authenticity, and collaboration — always holding you as the expert in your own story. In our work together, I strive to create a space that feels safe, supportive, and genuinely affirming, where you can explore challenges honestly and move toward healing, growth, and deeper connection.

Psychotherapy allows you to explore your struggles, issues, conflicts and insecurities in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. I work with you to assist you in finding ways to navigate and cope with your stressors. I utilize a solution focused approach, behavioral techniques and mindfulness, as well as other tools and techniques. Sessions are interactive.

Psychotherapy is the path to self knowledge, to help you find cliarity in not only what you want, but why you feel a certain way that you do. Over the years we endure traumas and life events that impact how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. Through psychotherapy we can explore what it is that you want and who it is that you are.

As experienced, highly-credentialed clinical psychologists and couples counselors, Dr. Joel Stukalin and Dr. Sara Mandelbaum have the necessary background to conduct short-term or psychoanalystic psychotherapy with clients. This means that clients can decide to work on direct symptom-relief or more comprehensive therapy that may lead to a deeper understanding of inner-conflicts, self-aspirations and unconscious processes. In order to do our psychotherapy compassionately and effectively, Dr. Joel and Dr. Sara collaborate closely with clients to understand their initial motives and unfolding goals within the psychotherapy process. Clients often benefit from this higher standard of care.

Psychotherapy, encompassing modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), offers a powerful and multifaceted process for addressing a wide range of mental health concerns beyond just depression. Through the therapeutic relationship, individuals gain a safe and supportive space to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT equips clients with practical tools to identify and modify unhelpful patterns, fostering healthier coping mechanisms and improved emotional regulation. EMDR, when appropriate, can address the impact of past experiences and traumas that may underlie present difficulties, facilitating emotional processing and reducing their lingering effects. This holistic process empowers individuals to gain self-awar

Psychotherapy is not anything to be scared of, or intimidated about. Seeking out a therapist or being in therapy isn't an admission of weakness or some kind of character flaw. Therapy is a collaborative process and a partnership with someone who is trained in and experienced with facilitating personal growth. And in this process, you are in the driver's seat. Our minds and emotions and relationships involve complicated machinery just like our bodies do and in the same way a medical doctor helps you stay physically healthy, Psychotherapy is designed to help you be and stay mentally and socially strong, and continually in a position to take on life's many challenges as your best self.

I care deeply about the people I work with and offer a personable and warm approach to psychotherapy. I integrate a variety of therapeutic techniques, including CBT and Insight Oriented Therapies, and I tailor my sessions to meet your unique needs. My clients learn coping skills to address daily stressors, and how to alter negative self-talk that exacerbates anxiety, depression, and feeling out of control of their life. I help my clients explore patterns of thoughts and behaviors, and to address the root of what is troubling them. I center our work on building a strong therapeutic relationship where clients feel at ease, and are fully seen, without fear of judgement or rejection.

Psychotherapy will be a collaborative, warm, trauma informed approach. Utilizing different mechanisms in order to explore how to make a better version of yourself and improve your wellness, recovery process, and mental health. Incorporating learning new healthy habits will take place. Increased confidence, self-esteem, and building on your self worth will take place.

Individuals at Emerge- The Counseling and Coaching Center find greatest success through the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) approach. This approach helps you connect your thoughts and behaviors to your actions. Not only will you gain and understanding of your past situations and relationships, but you will develop the skills to effectively change the course of your future.

Psychotherapy provides a unique opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in the context of a relationship that is safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental. In this space it is possible to gain insight into patterns that might be harmful and/or holding you back from realizing your relationship, career and family goals and potential. I am certified in cognitive processing therapy and EMDR, both evidence based practices for the treatment of traumatic experiences and/or PTSD. Additionally, I am trained in interpersonal psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, and frequently use elements of mindfulness based practices to treat depression and anxiety.

Psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment for individuals, couples or families experiencing emotional turmoil. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one type of psychotherapy that looks at how negative thoughts and feelings effect behavior. The C.B.T. approach teaches you techniques that can change these negative thoughts. Why struggle with feelings of depression, low self worth, poor body image and more when there may a treatment that can help you change your negative outlook.

My patients benefit from psychotherapy with me because I show them not only how to feel better but get better. Getting better means learning how they make themselves upset and how to stop doing this even when life and people are blocking them. I teach skills for directly changing self-defeating behavior. I give patients tools for self-direction and emotional responsibility. I send my patients emails to prompt them to think differently between sessions. I help them to transfer the skills I teach from my office to their home and work environments. I teach people how to maintain and extend treatment gains so that they do not need to be in psychotherapy forever.

Prioritize your wellness with psychotherapy in conjunction with medication management. Psychotherapy can offer a place to look at your current and past experiences from new perspectives and receive support as you move into the next chapter of your life. Let’s look at your wellness beyond just the biology. I want you to feel in control of your own wellness. As your doctor, I am committed to equipping you with the information you need to make clear, informed choices about your health.