Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?

I am Peter, a gestalt psychotherapist who seeks to co-create a safe space for folks with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other unique ways of being in the world. My interest in people who fall outside onerous societal, familial, cultural, and systemic constructs comes from lived experience as a learning disabled man. I understand the shame of never being "good enough" or "perfect" for not being able to meet the demands of an inflexible neurotypical world. So, I decided to serve vulnerable people by attending a Master of Social Work program at New York University, with the hope that I would be healed. While serving others was meaningful, I felt empty, lonely, sad, overwhelmed, frightened, and uncertain about who I was. Did I make my life meaningful through my actions? With that question in mind, I started receiving holistic psychotherapy and working at various non-profit agencies where I co-created healing relationships with intellectually disabled, autistic, and other unique people. Eventually, such experiences culminated in me attending the Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy, a postgraduate training program for aspiring gestalt psychotherapists. Gestalt psychotherapy, a psychotherapeutic form of healing based in the here and now, allowed me to address emergent feelings, sensations, and needs. Whomever I believed myself to be was gradually challenged and replaced by my new "self". This transformation repeatedly occurred by being embodied, authentic, intentional, and grounded in awareness. For me, ongoing transformation, healing, and authentic relating to co-create the scaffolding to experience love, kindness, support, and nurturing relationships remain central to my work as a psychotherapist. Ideally, my healing work will leave a lasting imprint on the world and universe, moving human beings from separateness to oneness. I welcome clients to join me in this journey of experiential growth, excitement, wonder, and reparenting. I send love and compassion to you all. Go in peace.

As an AuDHD (i.e. someone who is autistic and also happens to have ADHD), I am honored to work with neurodivergent people who have difficulty developing nourishing relationships, honoring themselves, and finding acceptance. I see my clients learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings and sensations, noticing their bodies, unmet needs, and humanity. From this, there is a shift from rejection to acceptance and holding. The body is no longer something to be avoided, but a home for healing, growth, and nourishment.

I became a therapist because I care deeply about the ways we connect with ourselves and with each other. I’ve always been drawn to the messy, beautiful complexity of relationships and sexuality (how much they shape our sense of self, our joy, and our pain). Over time, I saw how often people carry shame, confusion, or silence around these parts of life, and I wanted to be someone who could hold space for those conversations without judgment. Sex therapy and couples work let me walk alongside people as they untangle what’s been holding them back and move toward something more free and fulfilling. What keeps me going is seeing people begin to feel more at home in themselves (more confident, more curious, more connected). It’s incredibly meaningful work, and I feel lucky to do it.

I specialize in helping individuals & couples develop and nurture skills related to communication, sex & intimacy. Although we are inundated with cultural messaging about sex and relationships, most of us were not given the tools that allow us to connect to our partners or granted the space to freely explore the depths of our sexual selves. You deserve to feel understood, valued, and unburdened by shame. You deserve fulfilling relationships and an authentic intimate life.

I grew up in Kingston Jamaica and would say i grew up in a middle-class home, never experienced food or housing insecurity. I remember days driving down the street and seeing people who were unhoused and praying for them or wondering why they were living like that. I always wanted to help them or humanized them, even though i didn't know what that meant. As I became a teen, moved to NYC, saw more homelessness and was old enough to give someone 50 cents on the corner, i knew then, i wanted to help others in some way.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have worked in the therapeutic field for over 20 years. People want to be heard, loved, and accepted without judgment for their thoughts and feelings. As a therapist, I provide that safe space for individuals to do so. I take pride in helping my clients look beyond the surface of personal challenges to identify and heal root issues. I have experience with children, adolescents, and adults with mental health conditions and other social stressors. I specialize in helping individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, relationship and parenting issues.

I became a therapist because I've always been drawn to the stories people carry, the real, messy, honest ones most people don't feel safe sharing anywhere else. Even long before I had the license, I was the person people came to when they needed to vent, cry, decompress, or make sense of their lives. I saw early on how much people suffer in silence, especially women who are used to being "the strong one." I wanted to be the person who could say, "You don't have to hold all of this alone." I wanted to help people feel seen, validated, and empowered in a world that constantly pulls at them. And honestly? I became a therapist because I believe deeply in resilience and the possibility of redefining your life, even when you feel burnt out, lost, or exhausted by trying to keep it all together on the outside. What keeps me going is seeing the shift happen, that moment when someone who walked in defeated, overwhelmed, or disconnected suddenly realizes: I'm allowed to take up space, I actually matter, I don't have to be strong all the time, and change is possible for me. It's watching women show up stressed and stretched thin...then leave lighter, clearer, and more grounded than they realized was possible. It's the privilege of being trusted with people's most vulnerable moments, the ones they don't show anyone else. It's the belief that healing is not just about fixing what's broken, it's about helping people reclaim who they are under all the roles, expectations, and emotional labor.

I'm a New York based therapist who helps overwhelmed, high-performing individuals navigate burnout, life transitions, stress, and the pressure to "hold it all together," I take a warm, real, conversational approach that helps clients feel understood, grounded, and actually supported.

I became a PMHNP because my own life challenges strengthened my mental health, and I realized I could use my experience to help others navigate theirs. This motivates me to provide compassionate, practical support, empowering patients to overcome obstacles and build resilience.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Chanel Freeman’s journey into mental health began with a life-changing childhood experience, inspiring her commitment to mental wellbeing and helping underserved communities. She earned her BSN from D’Youville College in 2012 and spent over a decade caring for patients in mental health and substance use treatment, including on a med-surg forensic unit at a Level 1 trauma hospital. In 2020, seeking flexibility as a single mother, she earned her MSN and began practicing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. In January 2024, Chanel founded Chanel Freeman NP in Psychiatry PLLC, providing compassionate, accessible outpatient mental health care. Licensed in New York and Florida, she works closely with patients to offer personalized support and promote lasting mental wellbeing.

I decided to become a therapist because I grew up watching people around me struggle with their mental health as well as substance abuse issues. Those people did not have anyone to help them and had little to no support. Those experiences made me develop a deep curiosity and compassion for people's individual stories. I have always been a person that people come to for advice and to share their deepest secrets. I take the responsibility very seriously, and I enjoy helping people feel more like themselves, validating their experiences, and providing a safe space.

Are you feeling anxious or having racing thoughts? Hello and welcome! I am a licensed therapist for the State of Maryland and Delaware. I work with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem issues, and more. Clients most often enjoy working with me because of my eye-level perspective and warm nature. I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if we would be a great fit for each other. 

I became a therapist because I have a genuine interest in people and their stories. I believe that by telling their story, a client can identify obstacles and develop tools to overcome stumbling blocks in their current path. Every personal story is unique and valuable. Our stories shape who we are by examining where we came from, identifying where we are now, and determining where we would like to go.

I have over 25 years of experience helping teens and adults through anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and loss. Most clients already have everything that they need to overcome the obstacles that they encounter; they just need a little help developing and implementing a plan. I use an eclectic and trauma informed approach to meet clients where they are and guide them on their journey to becoming happier, healthier, and more satisfied with their lives.

I became a therapist because I’ve always believed people can heal from pain when they’re met with safety, curiosity, and skillful support. Early in my training I saw how a single compassionate conversation could change someone’s sense of self, restore relationships, and create space for hope — and I wanted to be that steady, evidence-based presence for others. What keeps me doing this work is watching real change happen: when clients reclaim parts of themselves that trauma, grief, or shame had silenced; when couples rediscover connection; when someone learns a new skill that helps them get through a hard day. I’m motivated by the trust people place in me, by continuing to learn (DBT, trauma-informed care, grief work and more), and by the belief that healing isn’t about fixing — it’s about partnering with you to uncover strengths, build new skills, and restore meaningful connections.

My path to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. Over the years, I have experienced grief, loss, divorce, trauma, abuse, and major life transitions in my own journey. These experiences not only shaped my understanding of suffering but also deepened my heart for walking with others who find themselves in painful or uncertain seasons. I know firsthand how overwhelming life can feel, and I also see the hope and restoration that can come through faith, healing, and connection. In addition to my personal journey, I have spent many years as a social worker in the hospice field, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life care, loss, and the grieving process. These experiences deepened my calling to create a safe and compassionate space for people in their most vulnerable moments. They also strengthened my belief that healing is possible even in seasons of sorrow, especially when we lean on faith and community. Today, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I specialize in supporting individuals through grief, loss, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions. My approach is warm, collaborative, and faith-centered—grounded in the belief that every person is created in God’s image and deeply loved by Him. At Connect & Restore Therapy, I blend evidence-based practices with Christian values, offering a safe space where you can process your story, rediscover your strength, and move forward with clarity and peace. It is my privilege to walk alongside you, not only as a therapist but also as someone who has walked through valleys and experienced God’s grace and renewal firsthand. Together, we can lean into hope and pursue the healing and restoration God desires for your life. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

I became a therapist because I wanted to help those struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues because people in my family were struggling with these issues. I found that, at the time, there were not enough resources for people to get the help they really need. I feel honored when people have the courage to share their stories with me. I love to witness the changes in my clients and their lives.

Tara Thompson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois, providing telehealth counseling services since December 2021. She works with adults, couples, families, and children, drawing on nearly two decades of experience supporting clients across the lifespan—from children to older adults.