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Psychologist Counseling Psychotherapy therapists New york city therapy NYC

Rachel Behrend Small, Ph.D.

 

Clinical Psychology Post Doctoral Fellow

In Network: Aetna; NYU Student Health Insurance

 

rachel@nycpsychdocs.com 
+1 347-201-1662

Hello! I am a post-doctoral psychologist with over seven years of experience working with adults and older adolescents in university counseling and small clinic settings. People seek care with me when they are struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, compulsive thoughts and behaviors, or a sense of being disconnected from themselves or their bodies. They may wish to work through confusion about aspects of their identity, untangle from self-defeating interpersonal patterns, or heal from traumas ranging from physical and sexual abuse to invasive medical procedures. I am interested in women’s sexual health and wellness and can work with those interested in exploring this vital dimension of living.

My perspective is grounded in the relational psychoanalytic tradition—I view the patient-therapist relationship as a forum for exploring and gaining insight into psychological dynamics that may be operating outside of awareness. Contemporary theories of attachment, neuroscience, and trauma also influence my work. As such, I believe that persistent emotional suffering originates in relation to early caretakers or systems that were unable to support the development of our capacity to regulate emotions or feel safe in relationships or that undermined our ability to thrive independently.

I also draw on therapeutic approaches that address mental suffering more immediately. For example, cultivating self-compassion and the skill of mindfulness—a curious, nonjudgmental quality of attention to the present moment—enables us to interrupt the cycle of reactivity to our distress that otherwise compounds our suffering and leads us into spiraling thoughts, panic, and despair. Mindfulness practices may include meditation, breathing, biofeedback, and expressive movement. To support the growth of mindfulness, during our work together, I may slow down the process and invite you to sense your body and put words to the texture of your inner landscape. Because I know how important it is to find practices that balance and tone the nervous system, I may also recommend and guide you in exploring related tools outside of the therapy room.

I aim to work collaboratively with you and help you feel comfortable expressing anything that comes to mind. Because moments of disagreement, misunderstanding, or tension are inevitable in relationships (the therapeutic relationship is no exception), I encourage you to share your feelings or concerns about our process freely. Such moments allow us to build trust, explore interpersonal dynamics, and experience each other in new ways. By creating a safe space for working through tensions in the here and now of therapy, we help build resilience to interpersonal conflict. This is a two-way process of discovery, and I believe that one of the greatest gifts of treatment is the mutual learning that takes place.

Altogether, in therapy, we can work towards a version of you less burdened by psychological distress in all its forms. I will help you develop a gentle attentiveness and responsiveness to your inner world so that you can express yourself and navigate relationships with greater clarity. I wish to help you feel more grounded, alive, and fully engaged in the process of growth and fulfillment!

I look forward to connecting with you!

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