Find a Therapist in Pelham Manor, 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.

My approach to psychotherapy is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and evidence-based care, with a specialized focus on addiction and co-occurring disorders. I work with clients to understand the underlying patterns driving substance use and behavioral addictions while building practical tools for lasting change. I integrate modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention to meet each client where they are. Clients benefit from a nonjudgmental, supportive environment where they can develop insight, strengthen coping skills, and move toward a more stable, meaningful, and self-directed life.

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.

Talk is powerful. Through talk we can learn how to listen, how to better understand ourselves and those around us, and begin the process of change. As a therapist, my goal is to listen to you and your needs so that I can give you the tools to move forward in your life and towards the goals you want to accomplish. In my practice I have helped individuals and couples deal with anxiety, depression, infidelity, and many life changes and challenges, and I know that no problem is too great too overcome. When you're ready for a real conversation, let's talk.

I look at thoughts and feelings what is important to you to give you a clearer approach to your path in life and what may be getting in the way. You may have an idea of how you want to be helped, and I will formulate a specific idea of how I can best help you. The reason that I like doing this kind of therapy is it is deep work that can be life changing.

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.

I gear the therapy I provide to each individual client or couple based on what I believe will be most helpful. To me, psychotherapy begins when there is safety and a trusting therapeutic relationship. I meet the client where they are at and we work at a pace that feels comfortable for them. I have tremendous respect and admiration for my clients and appreciate their willingness to open up to me and let me into their lives.

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.

At its best, psychotherapy is a place to come back to our authentic selves. Life tends to be filled with responsibilities and busyness; we often forget how to get quiet and connect. My approach is rooted in the belief that you have all the inner wisdom you need to feel better and heal. I will help you gain the clarity and direction you need to find your way back to your authentic self. I am not an "uh-hm" therapist. My style is interactive and engaged. I seek to hear your story and provide a safe space in which you can tell it. We will explore patterns with curiosity and learn how to outgrow ones that once protected you. You will feel more emotional resilience and balance in your life!

At Core Relationships, we are here to guide you towards stronger, more authentic connections that enrich your everyday life. Our therapists understand the heartache involved when issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or relationship conflict are present. Our work is centered around finding the areas where you can touch base with yourself in a more present and authentic manner so that you can navigate your interpersonal relationships with confidence and ease. Whether you’re seeking individual or couples therapy, we’ll work together to find the inner alignment and strategies that empower you to thrive in all of your relationships beyond therapy.

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.

I am successful. I have what I thought I wanted I should be happy but I feel like a failure and why don’t people understand what I am going through? Does that sound like you? Then you are in the right place. When you feel this way it time to look at your life, relationships and where you want to be. With a free consultation I can get you started.

One of the most life altering actions when seeking to gain traction in the struggle to live a satisfying life is the choice to work with a therapist. It signals a ground-breaking change in our approach to meeting the challenges we face; demonstrating a shift that embraces the possibility of tapping into knowledge and support outside our own skull. Most of us have a better ability to see and understand the actions and motivation of others than our own. We all have personal blind spots. This is evident early in therapy, when one experiences striking progress as a result of new insights gained in therapy.