Jenny Psaki, LSW
Shortly after receiving my Master’s Degree in Social Work (with a minor in Law) from Columbia University, I volunteered as a grief Counselor for NYC Fire Fighters and Police Officers and their families immediately following 9-11. It was then that I discovered the driving force which has guided my work and my practice ever since: We are more resilient and powerful than we know – all individuals (adults, families, adolescents, parents, seniors) already have great strengths and coping skills within them, which have been developed throughout their lives, especially during times of crisis and change. With empathy, trust, respectful understanding and self-determination in a supportive, therapeutic environment, growth and positive change can occur.
Prior to becoming a Social Worker, I worked as a trainer and an educational service advocate for parents of children with disabilities, and was also a qualified American Sign Language Interpreter working with deaf and hard of hearing persons from various countries and cultures. Applying my signing skills in a different context, I began working as a mental health counselor, as well as a guidance counselor and as a vocational counselor for adolescents, and young adults all of whom had various disabilities including deafness, blindness, autism, CP and cognitive needs. I am also a qualified mediator and a trainer working with children, parents and families, including those involved in divorce, foster care and adoptions.
I’ve counseled parents involved in difficult and challenging custody and time-sharing disputes, and couples who’ve had relationship violence in their past, but who were hoping to find a new and secure future together. I’ve coached parents of young children with severe behavioral needs, and mediated with multi-generational families in conflict over eldercare planning. In just about every case, I helped families and individuals work through their anxiety, depression or trauma to re-learn and regain their core strengths as well as their coping and resiliency skills.
Services offered:
- Individual and family counseling
- Couples counseling
- Adolescent counseling
- Mediation services for couples or families in conflict
- Coaching
- Anger management
- Special education advocacy
- Positive aging
- Crisis management for parents and teens
- On-going and brief, solution-focused therapy
- Behavioral health (including resilience, mindfulness and meditation techniques)
Occasionally, we may lose faith in ourselves and need to re-learn who we are and what strengths we still possess. We may also need to learn or ‘try-out” new skills, in order to overcome our current moments of crisis, fear or transition. Let’s work together to regain and re-capture your strengths, or to create new strategies that match your existing values and identity so that you or your family can ultimately become your most resilient, creative and versatile selves.