Find a Therapist in Mineola, New York.

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 can be an effective approach when you’re feeling “stuck” with a particular life situation. It can help you better understand why you’re thinking, acting or feeling the way you do. It can be hard to make sense of our behaviors at times, and I approach psychotherapy with the goal of finding your puzzle pieces and putting them together so you can feel whole.

Like most human experiences, I believe that Psychotherapy is a process. It needs a significant investment of time an energy and can be navigated in three stages: 1. Exploration; 2. Identification; 3. Change. My role as a therapist is to create the space for people to explore and identify some areas within themselves that they want to change and take the risk.

My approach to psychotherapy integrates several different theoretical orientations. This includes cognitive behavioral, experiential, positive psychology, family systems, and psychodynamic therapies. Therefore treatment with me will likely involve both a detailed exploration of your background and at the same time provide practical solution oriented interventions. By developing a comprehensive understanding of your unique personality I can determine which combination of approaches is most appropriate for you at different points throughout your treatment to most effectively assist you.

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.

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 is a safe place in which you learn to tell your truth. Psychotherapy has been called the "talking cure" because it has demonstrated, again and again, that telling your truth, your story, to someone who is empathetic and neutral reliefs symptoms such as depression and anxiety. However, psychotherapy is much more that just telling your truth; as a therapist, I am listening to what you are saying and what you are not saying, and I will make connections between "dots" in your life and share them with you. This process will help you look at your life, your relational patterns and your reactions from a different perspective allowing you make long lasting change.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy as it is known, is the most common approach to learning about the root causes of the presenting problem. We will use psychotherapy extensively together to learn about your life and what might seem in the way of moving forward in it. Make no mistake, the barriers to moving forward to the kind of life you want to live are removable!

Psychotherapy can be an effective tool in providing you with the necessary support and strategies to overcome the challenges you face. By starting therapy, you are taking control and action to change what no longer works in your life. I utilize Utilizing a variety of approaches including Cognitive/Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential/Humanistic, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and more. I work along side you to create a treatment plan that is customized to meet your unique circumstances.

In my continued endeavor to help and guide my patients, I embrace the Integrative Psychotherapy approach. In short, Integrative Psychotherapy is a “big picture” approach which seeks to bring together the therapeutic elements from the different schools of psychotherapy into the process of positive and wholesome change for the patient. Working in the Integrative Psychotherapy approach we can embrace and affirm your inherent values and your own inner healing ability. It is unifying and balancing.

Whether you are seeking help with a specific problem or simply trying to build a deeper understanding of yourself, my goal is for you to walk away with the confidence of having a clearer path towards your desired life. We do this by examining your life and its issues, identifying ways to move forward, and helping you pick the approach that will fit best for you. Don't worry about the issue, be it addiction, anger,family issues.....there is always an approach. If you want the help, I am determined to help you.

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.

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.