Therapists for college students near New York University

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience specializing in individuals in the arts and young adults. I have a specialty in college mental health due to my work at the counseling centers at New York University and Smith College. I am licensed to practice in New York and Massachusetts. ​I spent the majority of my career as the on-site therapist at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, providing psychotherapy primarily with actors, filmmakers, writers and other visual and performing artists I work with a wide range of presenting issues, including depression, anxiety, separation/individuation, bereavement, relationship concerns and LGBTQIA concerns, as well as the challenges particular to artists such as performance anxiety, career anxiety and writer's block.

My approach is an integration of psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral modalities, which means I will explore the way you experienced the world from birth until present in order to identify habits and behaviors that have become roadblocks to living in alignment with the person you want to be.

As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with 33 years of experience in healthcare, I believe people deserve more than just getting through the day. I’m passionate about helping individuals discover that there is a better way than carrying the weight of the world while trying to convince everyone — including themselves — that everything is fine. I specialize in trauma-informed care, depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, working with adolescents and adults who feel overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or disconnected from the life they want to be living. Many people spend years pushing through stress, emotional pain, and life's demands, only to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or burdened by guilt and self-doubt when things become difficult to manage. Mental health challenges rarely stem from a single issue. Often, they are shaped by life experiences, relationships, stressors, and circumstances that influence one another over time, sometimes leaving people caught in patterns of thinking, feeling, or behaving that feel frustrating or confusing, without a clear sense of where those patterns began. All of these stories matter. Through my professional experience and personal journey, I’ve learned that from the moment we enter the world, our experiences, relationships, and circumstances shape how we see ourselves and navigate life. Sometimes the hand we are dealt is difficult, and the ways we learn to cope, survive, and protect ourselves can unintentionally create additional struggles along the way. Mental health is not separate from the rest of our lives — it influences how we think, feel, respond to stress, connect with others, and move through the world. My goal is to help you gain insight into your story, recognize patterns that may be holding you back, and discover your own capacity for healing, growth, and meaningful change. My approach is curious, compassionate, and collaborative. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I take the time to understand the bigger picture, recognizing that mental health challenges are often shaped by a combination of life experiences, relationships, stressors, and personal circumstances. Understanding the whole story allows us to develop practical, individualized strategies that help make life's challenges feel more manageable and create lasting, meaningful change. Central to that work is uncovering the "why" behind the struggle. Long-standing patterns of guilt, shame, self-doubt, or emotional exhaustion can make it genuinely difficult to move forward, especially when those patterns don't seem to connect to anything obvious on the surface. Together, we explore them with curiosity rather than judgment, tracing the factors that may be contributing to what you're experiencing now. While doing this work you can always expect a warm, solution-focused environment where you feel heard and understood. Meaningful progress starts with a trusting relationship and a thorough understanding of your unique experiences, challenges, and goals. My style is trauma-informed at its core: I recognize that past experiences often shape how we think, feel, relate to others, and respond to stress in the present. From there, I tailor my approach to you, combining insight with practical strategies that support self-understanding, build resilience, and create the kind of change that lasts. My path into mental health care was shaped by both professional and personal experiences. As the director of a COVID ICU during the pandemic, I witnessed the emotional impact that illness, uncertainty, loss, and burnout had on patients, families, and healthcare professionals. It reinforced my belief that mental and emotional well-being go hand in hand. My passion for mental health deepened when my grandson experienced a mental health crisis at a young age. Despite working in healthcare, I witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the system, find resources, and connect with providers who truly understand what individuals and families are going through. These experiences strengthened my commitment to providing compassionate, whole-person care that helps people feel heard, understood, and supported as they uncover the deeper roots of their struggles, access their own capacity for healing, and create powerful, lasting change.

I work with individuals, couples, and families who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, relationship challenges, or the complexities of multicultural and minority identity, including those adjusting to life in the U.S. as immigrants or managing the pressures of being an international professional. In therapy, I provide a safe space to explore these experiences, understand patterns, and develop strategies for self-understanding and emotional regulation, helping clients move toward a more fulfilling and authentic life. I specialize in supporting clients experiencing anxiety, depression, workplace burnout, relational conflicts, migration stress, and minority identity struggles. I help clients reconnect with their inner strengths and build healthier relationships. My focus includes international professionals, immigrants, and minority individuals. As psychoanalyst Nancy McWilliams writes, making mistakes and wishing we had done things differently is not a sign of pathology—it is part of the human condition. I bring this belief to my work, creating a space where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to create meaningful change. 我与感到焦虑、关系困扰，或在多元文化与少数群体身份中经历迷茫困惑的个人、伴侣和家庭一起工作，包括那些作为移民在美国适应、扎根、生活或承受工作签证系统压力的国际专业人士。在治疗中，我提供一个安全的空间，让来访者探索自身经历、理解行为模式，并生发出自我理解与情绪调节的策略，帮助他们迈向更充实、真实的生活。 我专注于支持经历焦虑、抑郁、工作倦怠、关系冲突、迁移压力及少数群体身份困扰的来访者。我帮助来访者重拾内在力量，建立更健康的关系。我的服务对象包括国际专业人士、移民以及少数群体。 正如精神分析师Nancy McWilliams所说，犯错并希望自己当初做得不同，并不意味着有病理问题——这是人类的常态。我在工作中秉持着这样的信念，将其融入进一个让来访者感到被理解、支持和赋能，从而实现有意义改变的空间。

During college, it's not unusual to feel overwhelmed. Perhaps you want closer friendships. Maybe you get anxious when you talk to new people, or you feel lonely or down. Maybe you're falling back into a familiar depression or returning to high levels of anxiety you hoped wouldn't follow you to college. It can be hard to think about going to therapy when you don't even know what you'd say. If you feel badly about yourself or you feel hopeless, it might be hard to think anything will help. You are not alone. You don't have to have the answers. Listening compassionately, I will invite you to bring your experience into the room. Together, we can collaborate to better understand you and the challenges you're confronting. We may discover unmourned losses or unhealed wounds. We may identify recurring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and interactions that may not be serving you anymore. Experiencing a greater emotional range, you can begin to heal. After working in university counseling centers for over 15 years, I now see many undergraduate and graduate students in private practice. I enjoy working both with students who are new to psychotherapy as well as those who have been in therapy previously. Many students I work with are LGBTQIA+/ queer students.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I work primarily with adolescents, young adults, and young professionals through life transitions, relational challenges, and forging identity. Prior to going into private practice, I worked for New York University's Counseling and Wellness Services, seeing the university's dynamic undergraduate and graduate students. I often see those grappling with depression, anxiety, trauma, relational concerns, or sexual concerns. I have a specialty in working with eating and body image concerns/disorders from a Health At Every Size lens. I have niche expertise in concerns related to bariatric (weight loss) surgery and dramatic weight loss. I am LGBTQIA+ allied and often work with those exploring gender and sexuality. I work from a psychodynamic, attachment-based framework, and blend tangible skills to help alleviate your pain in the day-to-day and enhance your relationships. I am a person first, therapist second, and may utilize my own reactions and feelings to help us better understand your relationships in the world. From me, you can expect curiosity, warmth, and lots of questions about your experience to make sure I get it right. I try to leave you with interpretations of your challenges, new ways to think about your current circumstances, and things to try differently.

I enjoy working with college students. It is so much wiser to try and get hold of whatever issues you are struggling with earlier in life, rather than later, as problems can repeat themselves and really become entrenched, causing you pain and needless suffering. In addition, opening yourself to another person and focusing on what hurts often takes courage. My college age patients are often dealing with relationship changes, a changing sense of personal identity (sexual or in terms of sense of who I am or who I am becoming), concerns about study pressures or dynamics within friend groups or the dorm. Issues with your family at home can also be bothering you. Whatever your needs, I am comfortable defining exactly what they are, working with you to figure out what you need, and doing my best to get you on your way feeling that you've been helped and you possess the tools to keep going with confidence.

My name is Scott Graybow. I am a psychotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive post-graduate training. I welcome the opportunity to help you work on the issues that bring you to therapy. I understand therapy to be a cooperative effort in which we work together to help you engage with your mind, your environment, and your relationships. Therapy is pragmatic yet deeply meaningful; we simultaneously focus on immediate problems and opportunities for long-term growth. Throughout our work together, I strive to offer help that resonates with your individual needs and preferences. I work with young adults, adults, seniors, and couples. People who work with me are often seeking help for depression, anxiety, trauma, sexuality/intimacy, LGBTQ issues, self-esteem, religion/spirituality, work/life balance, men's issues, and the emotional impact of navigating challenging life transitions. As your therapist, I work to help you understand yourself so you can grow, be more effective, and cope better with the problems that bring you to therapy. I earned a PhD at the CUNY Graduate Center and an MSW from Columbia University. I completed postgraduate psychotherapy training at the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the Contemporary Freudian Society. Besides private practice, I’ve worked as a therapist at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Washington Square Inst., and Montefiore Medical Center. I also have experience teaching clinical practice classes to graduate-level social work students and publishing/presenting peer reviewed articles about psychotherapy and other mental health topics.

I offer a compassionate and supportive therapeutic space where clients can safely explore all aspects of themselves. While healing is ultimately a personal process, working with an attuned and understanding therapist can provide the containment and trust needed for meaningful change. I support individuals seeking therapy for emotional healing, self-understanding, and personal growth, helping clients gently engage with experiences that may feel difficult to face alone. My integrative approach draws on psychoanalytic psychotherapy, alongside somatic and mindfulness-based practices. I support individuals who may feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, or disconnected from themselves or others. I work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, cultural identity challenges, life transitions, and the lasting impact of past experiences. I believe meaningful therapy emerges through a strong therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, respect, and genuine curiosity. My work supports clients in moving beyond survival patterns toward greater emotional freedom, resilience, and a more connected way of living.

The Critical Therapy provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. With a deep commitment to liberation and empowerment, our focus is on transformation. We believe psychotherapy should be transformational, moving people to action.

You have the strength and agency to shape what comes next, even when the past feels heavy and the path forward feels unclear. If you're feeling overwhelmed, unsure of where to begin, or simply longing for a change, you're not alone. Therapy is a space where you can be deeply seen, heard, and supported, and I believe it should feel that way from the very first session. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma-informed therapy, grief, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and deeper insight-oriented work for adolescents, young adults, and adults. Many of the people I work with feel emotionally overwhelmed or stuck in patterns that are hard to break – racing thoughts, relationship difficulties, unresolved pain, and intense emotions interfering with daily life in ways that feel isolating and exhausting. Whether you're navigating mood changes, grief, family conflict, burnout, identity concerns, or trauma-related experiences, you deserve warm, grounded support that helps you better understand yourself, feel safe exploring difficult emotions, and develop healthier ways of coping. Together, we'll work toward greater insight, emotional resilience, and self-trust at a pace that feels authentic and manageable for you. Integrating psychodynamic and humanistic therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) techniques, I support both practical coping and meaningful emotional healing with compassion, collaboration, and authenticity. My goal as your engaged and emotionally attuned partner is to help you gain insight into the underlying patterns driving your distress, while empowering you to build lasting change and stronger relationships with yourself and others. In our sessions, you can expect a warm, curious, and nonjudgmental environment where you feel genuinely seen and heard. Insight-oriented exploration works alongside practical coping tools to help you better understand your emotions, process difficult experiences, and move through life with greater emotional flexibility and resilience. Treatment is tailored to your unique needs, goals, and lived experiences, because no two people, and no two paths forward, are exactly alike. A deep interest in understanding emotional suffering, relationships, and the ways early experiences shape our sense of self led me to this work. Through years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and couples navigating complex emotional and relational challenges, a strong commitment to trauma-informed, compassionate care has become the foundation of everything I do. Warmth, authenticity, curiosity, and deep emotional presence are what I bring into the therapy space now, because meaningful healing requires feeling safe enough to explore, process, and grow. Reading, gardening, cooking, spending time outdoors, and caring for animals are all things that bring me genuine joy and keep me grounded. Creativity, reflection, and meaningful connection are values I hold closely, and they naturally shape the thoughtful, compassionate approach I carry into my clinical work.

I provide evidence-based, effective, and collaborative psychotherapy for adolescents and emerging/young adults. My therapeutic style focuses on 1) exploration and understanding of your values, goals, and priorities, 2) elucidating adaptive and maladaptive patterns in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and 3) helping you make behavioral changes to build a life for yourself which is more in line with your values and priorities. I specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and incorporate aspects of other cognitive and behavioral therapies into my practice as appropriate. I am intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and offer DBT-informed treatment. Your unique treatment needs are the focus. As such, I encourage ongoing discussion about your progress and satisfaction with treatment. Therapy can be hard, and lasting change takes time. Give yourself some credit for seeking out services. Conditions treated include: depression, suicidal thoughts, non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, trauma and PTSD, social anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, perfectionism, attention and concentration difficulties, sleep difficulties, bereavement, relationship issues, family conflict, and excessive work/academic stress. Services are provided via telehealth.

Starting with the "here and now," I tailor treatment to you, whether you are looking to change problematic behaviors, get along better with others, make a difficult decision, or develop greater confidence and peace of mind. I offer an integrated approach of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, CBT, and DBT skills to facilitate change and growth. In addition to my experience addressing general life issues, I am very experienced in helping people specifically with addressing problem drinking and substance use.

Having moved countries multiple times, I deeply understand the stressors and challenges associated with settling into a new place, leaving behind friends, family, and pets. I can help you navigate these challenges and build meaningful connections and a fulfilling life. My primary focus is on adults who feel unfulfilled or trapped in a gilded cage and those who feel like they don't belong. When working with couples and individuals, my specialties include redistributing the mental load, fostering open communication, resolving conflicts, and reigniting intimacy. I tailor each session to meet the unique needs of my clients, always respecting their individuality and autonomy. I believe that even the most self-destructive behaviors originate from a place of protection. Let’s work together to reframe your relationships with yourself and others, transforming self-loathing and shame into understanding and kindness.

The enormous number of stressors we face daily are intense these days: the climate, global unrest and politics, the economy, overwork, isolation, disconnection. All of this is tremendously difficult to manage alone. Anxiety, anger, depression, resentment, boredom; sadness, rage, exhaustion, denial. If you're struggling with any of this -- or any other states that often bring people to therapy, like feeling lost or overwhelmed, relationship issues, lack of direction, emptiness, grief -- it's worth investing the time and effort to get help, get grounded, and find a better path forward. I offer both in-person & remote therapy. If you're suffering, struggling, having difficulty focusing or functioning, you may really benefit from talking with an empathic and skilled therapist (with room for humor). Life is a lot to handle on one's own. If you've ever considered trying to better understand things about your life, the first phone call awaits. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy offers deep empathic understanding and useful insights that can be grounding and freeing. Therapy expands your capacities and coping strategies while helping you understand yourself & loved ones better. Significant change takes time, but often real relief is experienced just by starting the process. Are you ready to begin?

Embark on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery tailored to your college life. Our therapists are committed to collaborating with you to uncover your inner joy, strength, and potential. Say goodbye to academic stress and hello to achieving your personal and professional goals. We're not just another therapy service; we're at the forefront of psychoanalytic thought and neuroscience. Our approach isn't about labels or fixing problems; it's about fostering healing and empowering you to build a stronger sense of self. Our therapists are experts in Self Psychology, Intersubjectivity Theory, and the neuroscience of change. They're equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to address your concerns and guide you towards psychological well-being. Let us support you on your journey to becoming your best self.

As a queer Asian-American Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I specialize in supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, particularly LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, as they navigate questions around gender, sexuality, relationship dynamics, and life transitions. I believe that every person deserves access to care and an environment where you can truly be heard. Together, we learn to lean into discomfort as we explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, with the goal of helping you feel more grounded, connected, and understood in your life and relationships. I prioritize culturally responsive, HAES-informed, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist care, so that you feel respected and empowered throughout our work. I am committed to creating a safe, affirming space where you can engage in authentic self-exploration and meaningful growth. My approach is trauma-informed and integrative, drawing from Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectal Behavior Therapy, existential therapy, and Mindfulness-informed somatic practices to support you in processing lived experiences and deepening emotional insight. Grounded in collaboration and compassion, this work centers on your unique values and personal story, while honoring autonomy and resilience. My work is informed by my identity as a lesbian and first-generation Japanese American. This perspective enables me to create an environment where people feel seen, understood, and supported, with care that is grounded in a deep respect for identity, culture, and lived experience. When I’m not helping patients, I stay balanced through a wide variety of hobbies, including reading, cooking and trying new restaurants, dancing, working out, crafting, traveling, and snowboarding.

You may be entering a new stage in your life, whether it is heading to college and moving out of your childhood home, starting your career, choosing to seek graduate or advanced training, or becoming serious in a committed relationship and starting your own family. You know what you want to achieve, but need additional support in navigating the stresses of setting off on this new path. Or maybe you want help in redefining the roles your family members and loved ones have in your life as you walk towards adulthood in a chaotic world. Maybe you have started your own family and made the decision to become a parent. You may want to parent differently than your parents, but are unsure how. You might be experiencing anxiety around being responsible for a vulnerable new human being. Children can be mirrors, reflecting our own experiences of childhood back onto us. Perhaps past painful experiences of not having your own needs met in childhood are bubbling up and you want to have a safe space to process and explore those experiences. Making lasting change can be difficult for most, and choosing therapy is the first step on the path towards positive growth and change.

Are you a creative person with high aspirations experiencing procrastination, perfectionism, and a hostile inner critic? Do you want to feel more free in your work or your relationships? Do you feel anxious or depressed and want to obsess less and laugh more? We will think together to figure out why you feel stuck, and how you will transform. We will collaborate to your unique strengths, using an eclectic approach. I am a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in the state of New York and received my Master's Degree from New York University in drama therapy. I completed post-graduate psychotherapy training at the Institute for Developmental Transformations, where I also served as Associate Training Director for three years. I worked at the School of Visual Arts as a psychotherapist and for 9 years worked at Bellevue Hospital in the department of psychiatry. I utilize empirically supported and embodied creative approaches to psychotherapy including Attachment Focused EMDR (completed levels 1 -3). I believe we should all be free to love who we love, to identify in whatever way feels most natural to us, and I am honored to hold space for anyone who is questioning what is "right" for them. I am fortunate to have worked with individuals from many continents. I strive to be aware of the power and privilege I have in the therapy space. I invite dialogue and play for exploring issues of cultural identity, race, class, trauma and abuse of power. I am an out-of-network provider for Wellfleet-Cigna (SVA, NYU, Cooper Union, Sarah Lawrence, etc.) and submit the paperwork on client's behalf.