Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a powerful, adaptable tool for all life’s stages and transitions. It’s not just about coping with the now; it’s about learning skills to manage future hurdles.
Together, we’ll explore the landscapes of your life, identifying patterns, challenging unhelpful thoughts, and developing strategies that foster growth and overall well-being.
Our sessions are a safe space where your experiences are heard and validated, and where each challenge is met with understanding and practical, evidence-based solutions.
The goal is to equip you with skills and help you build confidence to navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs, transforming adversity into opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment. With CBT you can learn to embrace life in its entirety, with all its complexities, joys,and sorrows. Your future can be filled with hope, purpose, and happiness.
We’ll explore the underlying causes of your drive for perfection and the need to overachieve.We will dive into the ‘why’ behind your actions and thoughts. Why the constant striving? Why the persistent fear of being ‘not good enough’? The ultimate goal? To help you find a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in both your personal and professional life, without the constant pressures.
Your 20s are an exhilarating and daunting time of exploration, discovery, and uncertainty. There are so many challenges to face: figuring out career paths, managing relationships, and seeking a sense of belonging in an ever-changing world.
Our focus is not just on the challenges themselves but on the underlying feelings of being ‘lost’ or ‘adrift’ that many young adults experience.
Together, we explore the anxieties surrounding career choices, pressures of the job market, or navigating romantic relationships. We can work on understanding how these experiences are shaping your sense of self and your place in the world.
But more than that, our therapy provides a safe space to think about existential questions that arise during this life stage, including concepts of identity, feeling of purpose, and personal values. The goal is to equip you with the tools needed to transform these challenges into opportunities for growth, self-understanding, and fulfillment.
Adolescence is a period of profound change and growth. These years are not just about physical growth; they are a time of intense emotional and social development.
Our focus extends beyond the symptoms of anxiety and depression. We explore the complexities of teenage life, including the pressures of academic achievement, the intricacies of social relationships, and the journey of self-discovery. These years can be fraught with confusion and self-doubt, and our goal is to provide the guidance and support needed to navigate these stormy waters.
In our therapy sessions, I provide a safe and compassionate space for teenagers to express themselves, explore their identities, and confront the challenges that come with this critical stage of life.
Together, we work on developing coping strategies that are both practical and effective, tailored to the unique challenges teenagers face.
The goal is to help them feel ready to face the future with confidence and optimism. This includes the development of skills that help them manage social media, peer pressure, and any other challenge thrown their way.
Childhood is when the seeds of emotional health and well-being are planted. In our therapy sessions, the focus is on nurturing the emotional wellness of children, especially those grappling with anxiety, trauma, depression, and attachment problems.
I also work closely with parents and caregivers, providing them with the insights and tools to support their child’s emotional growth. This collaborative effort ensures that the child’s emotional needs are met both in therapy and in their everyday life.
CBT for children provides a supporting environment where they can learn self-awareness, safely explore their emotions, and develop effective coping skills.
My approach is to understand each child’s perception of their world – their fears, hopes, and challenges. I incorporate play and creativity, making therapy a welcoming, fun, and engaging experience.
The goal is to help children develop skills in order to lay a strong foundation for their future mental health.
Concerns should be assessed and addressed as soon as possible with the purpose of preventing further problems. By addressing these issues early, we can assist children to grow into capable, balanced, and most importantly, happy individuals. They can learn to feel capable of navigating the complexities of the world with confidence and hope.
Parenting is one of life’s most challenging and rewarding journeys. It’s a path that requires constant learning, adjustments, and self-reflection. In therapy, I focus on empowering parents with insights and tools to create a nurturing and positive environment for their children.
A significant part of this process involves understanding how their own behaviors, emotions, and experiences directly impact their children’s development and well-being. We explore the dynamics of parenting and assess for issues that might be adding to the child’s emotional or behavioral problems.
In sessions, parents learn strategies for effective behavioral management, but more importantly, they gain insights into factors affecting the psychological functioning of their children.
We work together on developing empathy, communication skills, and stronger connections within the family. This approach not only addresses the immediate behavioral concerns but also lays the groundwork for long term emotional health.
By providing parents with these skills, we aim to transform the parenting experience into one that is more fulfilling, effective, and nurturing for both the parents and their children.
To create a safe and nurturing space where you feel valued, accepted, and empowered.
Your story matters and your strengths are honored. In therapy, you can expect empathy, respect, trust, and collaboration.
An integrative fusion of CBT and other evidence-based therapeutic interventions including DBT, Attachment-Therapy, Exposure Therapy, and Mindfulness.
Vanessa Gomes, PhD
New York Licensed Psychologist
Beck Institute CBT Certified Clinician
