Sylvia Leal (LCSW)

I am licensed in New York with 16 years of professional work experience. I am a dynamic Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I specialize in life transitions (time in a person’s life, which calls for deep self-evaluation and reflection), depression, anxiety, relationships, attachment anxiety, codependency, parenting, childhood/adult trauma, religious trauma. I use compassion and empathy, as well as alternative methods of healing to help you identify your own life’s path. While life is an ongoing process of learning and growth, I will help you walk your journey free from the grips of anxiety, depression, inner criticism and fear of loss. I often utilize a combination of treatment methods in my practice. In your first session, we’ll explore what brought you to therapy and then decide the most appropriate ways to help you make progress. We will take a look at your history, thoughts, emotions, current experiences and dreams to explore their relationship to each other and your mental health. During treatment, I’ll help you learn how to push back against barriers that keep you from identifying and achieving your goals. During our work together you can expect validation, acceptance, improved understanding of the dynamics that are impacting your mental health and human development, as well as a clear/thoughtful approach toward the resolution of matters that you are seeking to address/resolve. Most of my clients see a gradual lifting of symptoms within the first month and sustained improvement thereafter.