Carol Gelbard, LCSW #17957

Specializations Attachment-Focussed EMDR Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Therapy WELCOME Congratulations on taking a step toward change. Deciding to work with a therapist means you want your life to look different in some way. Whether you are trying to cope with distress, painful emotions, difficult thoughts, a loss, or simply want support as you navigate a transition or stressful event, I'm here. My goal is to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life. BACKGROUND I have more than 15 years of experience, providing psychotherapy services in hospitals, schools, and private practice settings. As a Clinical Day Treatment Director at a Community Mental Health Agency, I managed various treatment programs for high-risk youth, while also providing training and clinical supervision for therapists. Most recently, I provided group and individual psychotherapy services at Innovative Group Psychotherapy, using music and mentoring, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness to empower teens and young adults. APPROACH In my private practice, I enjoy working with individuals and families to navigate the challenges of life, whether they are personal, with family, or with peers. Areas of specialties include anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma, family conflict, life transitions, self-esteem, pregnancy loss/infertility, third-party reproduction, parenting, relationships, and emotion regulation. I love working with teens and adults, and I strive to create a warm, safe, shame-free space to explore how past life experiences impact current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together we will identify and discuss areas you want to reflect, clarify, strengthen, and change. We will establish healing through the empowerment of processing the past, learning coping skills to deal with day-to-day challenges, and creating meaning and hope for the future. The sessions may not always be comfortable, or easy, and it may take some time to implement the changes you seek, but I will be with you every step of the way. I believe therapy should be collaborative, revelatory, creative and, most of all, helpful. My style is down-to-earth, personable, and direct yet gentle. All of my work is based in empathy and authenticity. Interventions are aimed at promoting insight, self-awareness, distress tolerance, and self-management. My approach is founded in psychodynamic therapy, and I intuitively pull from a range of other modalities to meet your specific needs. These modalities include attachment-focused EMDR, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic therapy, and mindfulness-based therapies. NEXT STEPS If you're wondering if I'm the right fit for you, what you can expect from the types of therapy I practice, or whether you're ready to engage in the therapeutic process, please reach out for a complimentary phone consultation. Selecting a therapist is an important decision, and a brief chat may help you feel more confident in your choice.