Who I Work With

who i work with

Who I Work With

In over 25 years of empowering women as an Integrative Psychotherapist, I have found that there is a certain type of woman that typically seeks out my services. This woman is in her 20’s or 30’s, is smart, good-natured, and feels misunderstood. She knows that there is more to her than what she shows the world, but something is holding her back. Somewhere deep inside of her is a tiny spark that yearns to shine bright, but she does not yet know how to tap into it. That is where I come in.

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Read below to see if any of the following sounds like you. If so, you may benefit from psychotherapy sessions with me.

Anxiety

Some of my clients suffer from anxiety and/or panic attacks. They feel “tired but wired” and “stuck on,” keeping themselves over-scheduled, over-obligated, and under-committed to self care. It is challenging for them to shut off their brains, so they will sometimes turn to substances like alcohol or food to self-medicate.

Depression

Other clients who seek out my services have depression, typically accompanied by low self-esteem, negative self-image, and strong feelings of hopelessness. They are slow to respond and vulnerable to being taken advantage of. They may possess a negative outlook on life and neglect self-care.

Stress

Women I work with are almost always stressed out, taking on too much because they can’t say no or set boundaries. They make sure that everyone around them is taken care of, yet have little time to care for themselves. They make excuses for other people’s bad behavior and may even remain loyal to a fault. They would like to change their ways, but feel obligated to all of the people that they cater to.

Trauma

Many clients I work with are survivors of complex trauma. This type of trauma often occurs in childhood, where one is exposed to multiple traumatic events, such as abuse and neglect, and other harsh disruptions in the home, perpetrated by caregivers. When caregivers should have been a protective source of safety and stability, they, instead, were the ones causing the harm.

People Pleaser/Codependent

Most women I work with have people-pleasing and/or codependent tendencies. They want everyone to like them, so they do what they can to please them, like hiding what they are really feeling and avoiding confrontation. They may consider themselves to be “too nice,” yet are often surrounded by controlling people and bullies. They are resentful of how others treat them, but smile to hide it.

Relationships

My client may be submissive in most of her relationships, catering to whomever she is with. She is the one who dutifully apologizes in conflicts, even when she is not wrong. She encourages everyone else to choose first, and takes whatever is left over. She plays down her accomplishments to spare others’ feelings. She is vulnerable to being taken advantage of.

Communication Skills

The woman that I work with may have a hard time speaking up; perhaps she does not believe she has the right to, or perhaps she is simply too afraid of the outcome. When she absolutely must, she uses ineffective methods of communication, lacking skill and confidence to do it any other way. She is surprised yet encouraged to hear how useful learning and practicing effective communication skills could be to her growth and empowerment.

Groups and Workshops

At different times of the year, I may offer various groups and workshops on topics including:

  • Anxiety Management
  • Resilience Training
  • Befriend Your Inner Child
  • Somatic Techniques
  • Socialization Group
  • Communication Skills
  • Stress Relief
  • Social Work Mentoring

What My Clients Say

  • Empathy is the truest mark of a psychotherapist, and Heidi's ability to truly listen and care is what makes her such a fantastic therapist. Throughout my time with Heidi I always felt supported. Her understanding and flexibility went a long way towards creating a safe space. I can honestly say much of the progress I have made, the confidence I feel now, is directly because of our time together.

    JB

  • Most of my life I lived with a feeling that something was off. I could never tell what it is, but the feeling was always there. I came to Heidi in hopes of "saving" my relationship, and through our work I found something better, I found myself. Before Heidi I was skeptical of therapy, I thought only "crazy" people went there. At first I was nervous and uncomfortable, but Heidi was so gentle, empathetic, and non judgmental that I soon was looking forward to our sessions. She gently guided me on the journey of discovering truth about my childhood and the suppressed feelings that I've been carrying around for decades. With Heidi I discovered psychosomatic therapy (somatic experiences), and consciously experienced parts of myself I didn't know existed. I now know where the feeling of something being off comes from and why it's there. I've become connected to my body and my emotions, I've learned how to be empathetic, non-judgmental, and loving towards myself. Heidi showed me how good it feels to be seen and heard for who I really am.

    ZK

  • I started seeing Heidi when I was having trouble at work. I really liked her practice of meeting with you so we could both decide whether we were a good fit for one another. Her warm and welcoming demeanor put me at ease almost at once. Heidi is a great listener, and very thoughtful in her responses. As a result of her guidance and support, I was able to overcome my fears of career growth. Her techniques made it possible for me to succeed in my endeavors to find a new, more suitable position. After 20 years in the workforce, thanks to Heidi, I was finally able to find the right professional environment. Heidi has also helped me grow in my personal life. She has opened my eyes to focusing on what is important to me, and not just accepting things as they are if it is not right for me. I have gone through a few heartaches, and thanks to Heidi, I have been more selective and that has led to a much more fulfilling outcome in terms of relationships, whether it be friends or romance.

    SR

  • It has been difficult for me in the past to open up completely to therapists in the way that I needed to in order to benefit from the service. From day one, Heidi always made me feel comfortable through being genuine, present, warm and non-judgemental. This allowed for me to completely open up, be vulnerable and bring to sessions the topics that I deeply needed to speak about. Heidi is creative and open-minded and she helped me to have to develop a more hopeful and expansive worldview. I always looked forward to our sessions together.

    JG

  • I would not be where I am today without the work I've done with Heidi. This includes navigating a career as an educator, aiming for growth and still maintaining my sanity. It also includes learning about myself, my impulses and strategies to deal with those, as well as learning to set boundaries with those around me. Heidi has helped me not just find my voice, but to clarify it and use it to support my strengths and goals.

    CC

  • I remember I was so nervous to have my first session with Heidi because I did not know what to expect but because she was so patient, kind and understanding she made me feel very comfortable to open up. One of the main things she’s helped me accomplish is to stand up for myself, communicating, and also has helped me to not overthink my decisions. I look forward to our sessions every week because it gives me a chance to talk about the strengths and weaknesses I’ve come across and her guidance has really helped me. Thank you Heidi!

    LZ

Get In Touch

Contact me to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.

heidi elias

Call

(646) 828-6300

Email

[email protected]

Address

161 W. 54th Street, #203
New York, NY 10019

Business Hours

Tuesday to Friday: 11AM - 7PM

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